Page 3956 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 30 October 2013
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impression that they would not do so but, rather, because there should not be a blind assumption that any new service provider should not have to meet service standards and deliver a service based on best practice in the sector.
In closing, I note that I support the amendment proposed to this motion. As amended, I would be pleased to support the motion. I look forward to hearing about the progress of this project proposal, acknowledging the complexities of the funding model and the changes we are expecting under the NDIS. I hope we can actually start to work on this issue in a slightly different way. It is quite challenging for me to find that the only times this comes up for me is when the next motion comes on the table. I received the letter last week, and I think the letter in itself is a little bit telling. It simply starts out:
Dear Member of Parliament, there have been a number of inaccurate and publicly damaging statements which we feel obligated to address.
It is a real shame that that is how the AEIOU Foundation are feeling. If that is how they are feeling, that is a problem. I appreciate their taking the time to write and seek to clarify some of those issues, but I think there are better ways to go about trying to move this issue forward than constantly putting up a motion in the Assembly trying to force some sort of public discussion.
There are really serious questions to be asked and good discussions to be had, no doubt. There are issues around the University of Canberra. Based on the information I have been able to garner, people are seriously looking at this. But to have press releases and motions speculating in the public space about what UC are doing does not assist the process.
I am keen to support the intent of Mr Doszpot’s motion. As I said, I will be supporting the amendment because I think it clarifies a few matters. I hope that we can have some further discussion. I suspect I am going to get a spray in a minute when Mr Doszpot stands up, but I really urge that we find a slightly different way to continue this discussion. I would be more than happy to meet with representatives of the foundation if they are in Canberra. Mr Doszpot suggests I should go to Brisbane and sort it out. That may not be possible. There are only so many things one can humanly fit in a week, but I am happy to have some discussions outside the chamber about how we might proceed from here.
MR WALL (Brindabella) (10.38): I must begin by thanking Mr Doszpot for bringing this motion to the Assembly again today. The Canberra Liberals are unwavering in their support for the establishment of an autism-specific school in the ACT. The benefits are many and the risks are few. These facts have been outlined in this place often by the Canberra Liberals. Whilst this is not the first time this issue of early intervention support services for autism has been raised in this Assembly, the need for such options in the ACT has not changed.
About five per cent of children continue to be diagnosed with autism. There is still little known about its causes, and effective treatment options are very limited. Much has been said in this place and in the wider community by Mr Doszpot and my other Canberra Liberal colleagues on this side of the chamber about the success being
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