Page 1718 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 May 2013
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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Chief Minister, why would ACTEW disclose executive remuneration on a cash basis given that it understated the size of executive remuneration being paid?
MS GALLAGHER: As I understand it, some of the issues that ACTEW have spoken of in relation to the underreporting and the confusion, perhaps, of the remuneration over a certain period have to do with the timing of the payments of the bonuses, which do not necessarily align with an annual reporting period. We are dealing with the content both of the Auditor-General’s report and the correspondence we have had with ACTEW and we will be providing a government response to the Auditor-General’s report when it is due.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Chief Minister, what information is provided in the ACTEW annual report?
MS GALLAGHER: I refer members to the annual report. Like all annual reports, they provide a description of the activities, operations and functions of the relevant identity over a certain reporting period. There are always ways we can look to improve information to the community through the annual reports process. We are going to do that through the Chief Minister’s directions in relation to government directorates and agencies, and we will be advising ACTEW of any changes we have been making to ensure that their reporting to the community remains as informative as possible.
Health—mental health
MS BERRY: My question is to the Chief Minister. Can the minister outline for the Assembly how the proposed secure mental health unit will benefit the people of the ACT.
MS GALLAGHER: The very important component of any mental health system is having the necessary facilities available to provide a range of care and support responses to people who have a mental health illness. In the ACT, we have been working hard to build up a number of our services over the last few years. The missing component within our mental health system now is the provision of a secure mental health facility. We have been doing some work around that.
The government has announced its decision to modify the project as it was outlined previously into a 25-bed facility as opposed to a 15-bed high security facility. We have taken the decision to have a 15-bed medium security facility and 10 low security beds within the new facility. The government’s intention is to build this facility on the site of the former Quamby Youth Detention Centre in Symonston, but we believe that when it is fully operational, and we are doing some work on the design now, this will provide the best fit for the Canberra mental health system into the longer term. It is very difficult.
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