Page 1286 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 April 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
ACT Health—NGO funding
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Non-government organisations have been waiting to hear from ACT Health about variations to funding agreements by the end of last month. ACT Health has now advised NGOs that it hopes to finalise negotiations by the end of April to ensure that the new arrangements are in place by the end of June. What are the reasons for the delays in finalising negotiations with health non-government organisations?
MS FITZHARRIS: I am aware that there are ongoing discussions with a range of very important NGO partners. I will take the question on notice.
MR PARTON: Minister, will you guarantee that ACT Health will finish negotiations by the end of April and that all funding agreements will be in place by the end of June?
MS FITZHARRIS: I certainly expect that all funding arrangements will be in place by the end of June, and I will take specific advice on the exact time for when negotiations will conclude.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, when will health non-government organisations have certainty in funding?
MS FITZHARRIS: They have certainty in funding. I know that there was significant work undertaken with the NGOs towards the end of last year about ongoing certainty for them in funding over multiple years. I was very pleased to be able to provide them with that level of certainty. I will take the previous questions on notice and believe that that will answer Mrs Dunne’s subsequent question as well.
ACT Policing—assault victims
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. When victims of sexual assault or domestic violence come forward what is the procedure and training for frontline staff in how to handle those allegations?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Lee for her important question. I have been working with ACT police over the past 14 years in regard to domestic violence, particularly the sorts of violence Ms Lee raised, both in my role as a white ribbon ambassador and in my current role as Minister for Police and Emergency Services. There are a number of detailed operational matters that police are involved with when it comes to the reporting and investigation of these sorts of actions. They take a long-term and very detailed approach to ensuring the safety of particular people in these situations and ensure that their wellbeing is looked after at the same time.
They are involved with a number of Canberra groups that assist people in these situations; the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre is a very good example. There is a whole team in ACT Policing dedicated to this sort of work. Every officer is trained in, if you like, personal situations with family violence and those sorts of matters.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video