Page 1631 - Week 05 - Thursday, 8 May 2008
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scheme is only possible because the ACT retained the leasehold subsystem of land tenure in the face of pressure from the property owners and development lobby, for which we should credit the former planning minister.
I earlier commended the health minister for health spending commitments that are part of a plan. A key focus for this budget is the creation and improvement of health infrastructure, culminating in the ability to service increased demand for acute services in about 10 years time.
Yesterday, at the ACTCOSS budget snapshot seminar, the Health Care Consumers Association of the ACT said that, while the budget increase was very welcome, the most significant initiatives were probably the improvements to community health centres and the development of a Gungahlin health centre. The need to address the provision of primary, not just acute, health care services would do much to reduce pressure on the health sector. The association reminded the seminar that health is not just about acute needs, but is about maintaining wellbeing, with greater focus on promotion, prevention and early intervention. With an increased demand of six per cent per annum for health services, predicted to peak in about 2016, what can the government do to reduce that peak?
The ACTCOSS snapshot document states: “Very few resources were allocated to primary healthcare services. This is despite the overwhelming need for Government to address the access and affordability issues associated with primary health care. This need is particularly relevant amongst people experiencing disadvantage who are finding it more difficult to access affordable and timely healthcare.” While the amount of money invested in the health budget is significant, I wonder if it has been spent in the best way. Are we pursuing smarter ways of responding to increasing demand, or are we still thinking within the square?
Many mental health service consumers are pleased about the development of a new psychiatric services unit to replace the existing one at Woden, which, to be polite, is not the most conducive to recovery. The money towards infrastructure for the variety of inpatient units is welcome. I understand that the government is making great attempts to work with mental health service consumers and community organisations to ensure that the units are in line with consumers’ needs, and I have faith the government will continue to work in this manner.
But systems need to change to meet the increased demand. To quote ACTCOSS again: “If the government is committed to significant program reform for mental health consumers, an increase in community based service expenditure to at least 30 per cent of total mental health budget is required.” I have had some debate with the Minister for Health about this in committee hearings, as she has argued that a number of services are based in the community. But the key point is that the services need to be delivered by community organisations, not government, in the community.
Dual diagnosis is an issue that I have raised in this Assembly on multiple occasions. Many budget submissions have called for greater commitment to this issue and the government has continued to keep it on the backburner. This budget fails to mention it, despite the large and welcome commitment to mental health. This is another example
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