Page 58 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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An important milestone for the package will be the extension of the secure local jobs code to any tender primarily for labour and valued above an amount prescribed by regulation. As I indicated when the legislation was introduced, I expect the contract value in this respect will be $200,000 or more.
I am confident that as we continue to progress through milestones and work our way through each “first” for the secure local jobs code, we will continue to meet our commitment to the people of Canberra that this ACT Labor government only contracts with businesses that uphold the highest ethical and labour standards. In this area, as in so many others, we are getting on with delivering our commitments to the people of Canberra.
Mental health—patient outcomes
MRS JONES: My question is to the Minister for Mental Health. Minister, I refer to table 13A.53 of the Productivity Commission’s ROGS report which shows that the ACT has the lowest level of mental health patients being discharged with significantly improved outcomes. Only 35 per cent of patients had their condition improve while they were inpatients. Why does the ACT have the lowest level of mental health patients being discharged with significantly improved outcomes?
MR RATTENBURY: Right throughout the report on government services there is a significant range of indicators. Mrs Jones has picked out one, but there are quite a few that reflect very positively on the work of mental health services in the ACT. I am happy to seek further advice for Mrs Jones on the specifics of table 13A.53.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
Mrs Jones: Mr Hanson, I have got a question to ask.
MADAM SPEAKER: I know it is the first day back, ladies and gentlemen, but please can we get to the end of question time in a civil manner.
MRS JONES: We would love to get to the end of question time. Are patients being discharged, minister, because the mental health system is over capacity at all?
MR RATTENBURY: No. Patients are discharged under the advice of medical staff who assess them.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what actions are taken to check on patients who have been discharged without a significant improvement in their condition?
MR RATTENBURY: As members who have read the ROGS report in detail will know, there are indicators which go to the rate of follow-up. The ACT has a follow-up rate whereby people are discharged and followed up, and follow-up calls are made. That is the key mechanism through which people are assessed going forward. Not everybody has a follow-up plan. I have dug into these figures because I wanted to look at why some people were not getting a follow-up phone call within seven days,
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