Page 318 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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The government will also move to replace the Public Sector Management Act 1994 with the ACT Public Service Bill 2014. This bill brings forward a framework to reduce the complexity and red tape in the current ACT public service employment framework. It will reflect the modern approach to public sector legislation recently incorporated in changes to commonwealth legislation.
These sittings will also see the introduction of legislation with the potential to transform the lives of those living with major injury or disability, their families and carers. The Lifetime Care and Support Scheme (Catastrophic Injuries) Bill 2014, introduced today by Minister Barr, will guarantee the ongoing treatment and care of those who suffer catastrophic injury in a motor accident. This bill delivers to the ACT the first stage of the national injury insurance scheme—itself a vital addition to the national disability insurance scheme. For accident victims, it removes the burden of proving fault before they can claim for long-term care and spares families the strain of a long litigation process.
The government will also take the next legislative step in preparation for the launch of the national disability insurance scheme. The Disability Services (Disability Service Providers) Amendment Bill 2014 will amend the Disability Services Act 1991 to embed quality assurance requirements for disability service providers which operate under the NDIS.
In its current form, the Disability Services Act 1991 is not compatible with the NDIS because it relies on a funding relationship between the ACT government and service providers. The government’s legislation will redefine the ACT’s jurisdiction and scope to remove our reliance on this funding relationship and provide for a strong safeguarding framework. This reform is vital to ensure the NDIS delivers on its promise to Canberrans living with disabilities through a consistent and high quality of care across the sector.
In mental health, the government will introduce the long-awaited Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Amendment Bill 2014 to significantly improve the experience for users of mental health services in the ACT and their carers and align us with national and international mental health law reform. The revisions will introduce the key concept of decision-making capacity to the act and improve opportunities for mental health consumers to have input to treatment, care and support planning.
Review and oversight of treatment orders is enhanced and compliance with the needs of the ACT Human Rights Act has been addressed. The amendments also introduce a new class of forensic mental health orders and provide for people who suffer as a result of another person’s mental illness, similar to the way in which current provisions for victims of crime work.
This summary of bills provides just part of the government’s legislative agenda for these sittings. They show the overarching priorities which continue to guide our actions, to create new opportunities for Canberrans and improve the working of government across the ACT.
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