Page 4322 - Week 10 - Thursday, 22 September 2011
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seekers. The card has been developed in consultation with stakeholders, particularly the representatives of community service groups that serve on the ACT Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Humanitarian Coordination Committee. The card will alleviate the need for these asylum seekers to retell their stories at service delivery points across the ACT administration. The service access card is about significantly improving access to services that people are currently entitled to under the ACT government policy. These include transport, education, health care and legal assistance. I am confident that the service access card will make everyday living just that little bit easier for those who are claiming protection visa status.
We have created this card because we know that unfortunately, due to lack of understanding around their rights, some asylum seekers have had trouble accessing the services they are entitled to. The card will remove any doubts and the holders will be able to use it for a range of services, as I have said, around transport, education and access to health care.
I am in no doubt that the ACT government will always ensure that asylum seekers choosing to live in the ACT pending the outcome of their asylum claims will be treated the same way as other Canberrans and encourage them to have this as a place to call their home. This card is just one way in which we can make that happen.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Thank you for that, minister. Could you tell us, please, what kind of services the card will facilitate access to?
MS BURCH: As I briefly mentioned in my earlier answer, the card entitles the cardholder to ACT government transport, education, legal services and healthcare services. The cardholders will have access to concession rates on ACTION buses. Eligible persons with a disability will have access to the taxi subsidy scheme and eligible Oaks Estate residents will have access to concession rates for Deane’s Buslines.
In education, the cardholders are entitled to English classes at the Canberra Institute of Technology and the children of cardholders will be entitled to free education in government schools. Cardholders are entitled to important legal services such as will preparation and enduring power of attorney through the ACT Public Trustee.
In health, the cardholders are entitled to ambulance services, community health services, public health services and public dental services. To be clear, ACT Health’s policy for asylum seekers, which indeed pre-dates the creation of the access card, has been, and continues to be, that Medicare ineligible asylum seekers are to be provided with full medical care, including pathology, diagnostics, pharmaceutical and outpatient services in our public hospitals. Patients who are seeking these services are not to be billed but the policy does not apply to ineligible persons who have a contract with a VMO.
DR BOURKE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Dr Bourke.
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