Page 830 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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from government and non-government agencies across the justice, disability and human services sectors. The reference group provides advice and ensures that the lived experience of people with disability is central to the strategy development. I particularly want to acknowledge the roles of Dougie Herd, the chair of the disability reference group and co-chair of this reference group, and Yenn Purkis, who has shared their story of lived experience with the justice system as a person with autism.
While the strategy is being finalised, this government is already taking steps to improve access to justice for people with disability. Funding was provided in the 2018-19 budget to enable the continuation of Canberra Community Law’s Socio-legal Practice Clinic which provides intensive early intervention legal and social work assistance for people over 18 who have a high level of vulnerability and no support. The continuation of this clinic was identified as a high priority by stakeholders during consultations on the development of the disability justice strategy.
Work has also been undertaken to improve training availability for people across a range of front-line positions within the justice system. This training will focus on supporting people with cognitive disability who have further vulnerabilities. I look forward to continuing this work with the community.
Visitor
MADAM SPEAKER: I acknowledge the presence in the gallery of a familiar face, former OLA staffer Neal Baudinette. Why in question time, one would ask; but anyway, welcome back.
Questions without notice
Light rail—safety
MS LAWDER: My question is to the Minister for Transport. Evidence from other light rail networks suggests that a spike in accidents could be expected following the launch of the light rail. Minister, what have you learned from the recent incidents to minimise any spike in accidents and injury from light rail in Canberra?
MS FITZHARRIS: It is certainly the case that there are many people working on this light rail project who have also worked on other projects around the country, including some of Australia’s most recent light rail projects, and certainly it is the case that there will be learnings taken from this. I think the community has learned more from this incident as well.
MS LAWDER: Minister, how can you claim that enough has been done to ensure the safety of Canberrans around the light rail given that so far more Canberrans have been hit by the light rail than have travelled on it?
MS FITZHARRIS: I refer Ms Lawder to my previous answers.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, without any public audit or report into these safety incidents how can you assure Canberrans that all is being done to keep them safe?
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