Page 2162 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 May 2013
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MR HANSON: Minister, what financial support is your government providing to community organisations that support the self-management of chronic illness?
MS GALLAGHER: I would have to take the detail on notice but the Health Directorate are one of the largest directorates across government that provide funding to non-government organisations. Certainly the Heart Foundation would, as one of the peaks, fit into that criterion. But they have a range of different programs. We have also engaged with Medicare Local from time to time as well. I will be able to get a full list of that and provide that to the member.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Minister, what should individuals do to ensure that they are not prone to chronic health conditions as they get older?
MS GALLAGHER: The chronic conditions strategy addresses the care and support for people who have a chronic condition. However, the Health Directorate also undertakes a range of activities in health promotion and the primary prevention of chronic conditions to help people who have chronic conditions. All individuals in the ACT can ensure that they are not prone to develop chronic health conditions as they get older.
I should say that we are very mindful that not all chronic conditions can be prevented or managed through lifestyle modifications, but living a healthy lifestyle, making sure you are getting adequate levels of physical activity, eating well, not staying on your computer all the time, not smoking and looking after your blood pressure will all contribute to improved health outcomes.
According to the 2012 Chief Health Officer’s report, only 57 per cent of ACT adults were sufficiently active, less than 10 per cent of ACT adults eat sufficient vegetables on a daily basis and more than 40 per cent of adults do not eat enough fruit. So there are some improvements we can make, but it is also important that we have a strategy that supports those who are living with a chronic condition and their families and carers.
I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Supplementary answers to questions without notice
Federal government—budget
MR BARR: In response to a question that was raised by Mr Smyth and a series of supplementaries from Mr Doszpot in relation to NICTA, I have some advice I would love to share with the Assembly. It is a lesson, Madam Speaker, in never taking what Mr Smyth says to be the truth. It turns out that the article that Mr Smyth appears to have been basing his particular information on, and his interpretation of the budget pages, in fact shows that NICTA is funded in the budget for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years and that Minister Conroy has said that future funding will be considered in the context of next year’s budget. Furthermore, a spokesperson for NICTA says:
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