Page 619 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
That was allowed, and subsequently I believe we now have ACT-relevant opioid treatment guidelines which are based on the national guidelines.
It is also important to note that while these have now come in to effect, at no point during the preceding years were there ever outdated guidelines; they always remained in effect and they always guided clinical practice. What we now have is updated guidelines based on the national guidelines that are very relevant to the ACT and have undergone extensive consultation with stakeholders in the drug and alcohol sector here.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, can you clarify for the Assembly when you received this brief? What you have said in the chamber today seems to contradict what you said in the chamber last year.
MS FITZHARRIS: I do not believe that I did contradict. I believe that Mrs Dunne referred to the fact that when I was asked in December I said, “I have just received those.”
Mrs Dunne: It was September.
MS FITZHARRIS: Well, in that case there was ongoing consultation. There was significant consultation with a range of different health groups here. I have those dates in my office. I can provide those dates on which very consultative meetings took place to update these guidelines. They continued throughout the end of last year, most recently through January and February of this year before the guidelines were completed and announced today. I do not believe that I have misled the Assembly but I will certainly take the detail of the question on notice, reread it and come back.
MR STEEL: Minister, why is it important to consult on the development of new guidelines?
MS FITZHARRIS: It is essential to consult. I thank Mr Steel for the question because it is vital. It not only allows us to learn from stakeholders. It also makes sure that we get our policies, our procedures, our frameworks and our guidelines right.
This group that was consulted with on the opioid treatment guidelines had representation from a wide number of groups, not only within ACT Health within the justice setting but also within the community setting: those members of community groups who deliver on-the-ground services, who work daily with people with opioid dependency and who rely on these guidelines.
I am very pleased that we took the time to do this consultation but I am very pleased to see these guidelines finalised.
Sport—go-karting
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Minister, can you update the Assembly on the government’s election commitment to upgrade the Mark Webber go-kart track?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video