Page 11 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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ACT government to try to find better motorcycle parking across the parliamentary triangle. I look forward to hearing the results from the government on this petition.
Canberra Sexual Health Centre—petition 2-19
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra) (10.05): Thank you, Madam Speaker, and welcome back. I want to speak briefly in support of the petition under your name regarding the Canberra Sexual Health Centre. The Canberra Sexual Health Centre is a valuable community institution. I think we could all be in agreement in this place that its staff are first rate. The care there is exceptional and the demand is increasing. There is major growth in walk-in clients and, scarily, STIs are increasing. We have heard that repeatedly, especially over the last year, from the Chief Health Officer. For that reason, we need more services, and they need to be in locations that are fit for purpose.
The Sexual Health Centre’s building is, regrettably, outdated. Having attended the facility and seen firsthand the excellent work that is done there, I do wonder myself how it will continue to meet demand in the current facilities. A needs assessment for a new sexual health centre would be sensible, as would a satellite site. I note, pleasingly, that last year the government was running a pilot satellite centre after hours at the Belconnen and Tuggeranong community health centres, in partnership with another excellent organisation, the AIDS Action Council.
We heard in annual reports hearings that the ACT government, thankfully, is actively considering whether there is sufficient staffing and sufficient infrastructure to deal with what we are finding regarding STIs and the care that we can be giving in respect to that. I think it makes a lot of sense that clinical testing be considered in our walk-in centres and also that something like chlamydia testing take place at Groovin the Moo.
I very much hope that the government carefully consider the contents of this petition in their response, and I very much look forward to it.
Light rail stage 2—direct alignment—petition 13-18
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (10.07): I am speaking to the petition from Woden residents about the light rail. I point out that this is not about whether it is light rail or another form of transport. It is about the route of the transport. This is a matter of great importance to transport users in the Woden Valley and, of course, places further south. Currently the people such as me who use, say, the Blue Rapid from Kambah or Mawson to the city are very well served by public transport. It is a fast, direct service. Most of the time the bus makes it from Woden to the city in 16 minutes or less—sometimes down to 12. It is regularly done in 13. People are very happy with this service. It is very popular. ACTION has had to put on extra services because it is so popular.
The residents behind this petition are concerned that this fast, direct service could be lost when light rail starts. In June 2018 the government announced that light rail via the Barton dogleg would take between 20 and 30 minutes from Woden to the city. That is almost a doubling of the travel time for those who start in Woden. Those who
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