Page 4229 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 24 October 2017
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MR RAMSAY: It is a matter under investigation and it is for the police to determine the number of incidents related to OMCGs. I refer Mr Hanson to that. The situation, however, is that we will continue to work in the areas of reform that are effective and deliver the ongoing safety we have and will continue to have in Canberra under this government.
MRS JONES: Attorney-General, are you aware of UnionsACT, or any other union or unions, raising objections to anti-consorting laws?
MR RAMSAY: It is my understanding that, prior to the previous election, there was a consultation in relation to anti-consorting legislation. A number of pieces of information were received as part of that after my predecessor, Mr Corbell, undertook a consultation process on the human rights implications, noting that anti-consorting laws, rather than community organisation control orders, impact—as has been found in other parts of Australia—people who are most vulnerable.
Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question is very direct: it asks the Attorney-General whether UnionsACT or any other union raised objections to anti-consorting laws.
MADAM SPEAKER: Attorney-General, I think you made reference to an earlier consultation. But perhaps you want to provide more clarity.
MR RAMSAY: On the basis of the consultation, the government decided not to pursue anti-consorting laws. I am not aware of any consultation that was received from unions.
Disability services—special needs transport
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Disability, Children and Youth. At the hearings of the joint standing committee on the NDIS at Parliament House on Friday the issue of funding of transport for special needs students was raised by several witnesses, including you, minister, and ACT directorate staff. An officer from your directorate said there was no solution for the ACT as yet and that you were still working on developing a model. Minister, what advice have you provided to parents with children who require special needs transport but are not yet able to access it?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Lee for her question. I think there is probably a little bit of confusion between school bus transport—characterised as special needs transport—and transport that is provided and funded as part of people’s individual packages. The conversation in the joint committee hearing related largely to school transport—so special needs transport—to get children to and from school. It is a matter of ongoing discussion between the commonwealth and the states as to how that should operate within the NDIS environment. Currently that continues to be block funded by the states and provided by the states as in-kind support under the national disability insurance scheme.
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