Page 4767 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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the table forever, and if circumstances change it may well be back on the agenda. Key to that, it seems, is more medical research about the benefits of pasteurised milk being shared more widely within the community rather than just in a NICU hospital setting.
I was especially pleased to hear the minister state that she has asked for work to be done with a safe, secure collection service—perhaps with the Red Cross, who we know are really picking up their efforts in this space nationally. I am pleased about this because one of the common themes that we have heard and that we reported on in this place a year ago is that sometimes it is about the travel, the distance and occasionally the safety, or perceptions of safety, with those sharing arrangements. In many cases people want to donate and do have that excess supply but they simply cannot leave their residence, for whatever reason, to be able to give this gift.
I am very much looking forward to future work in this space, and I thank the minister for her report today.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Mental Health Official Visitor—annual report 2018-19
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, Minister for Advanced Technology and Space Industries, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (3.09): Pursuant to standing order 211, I move:
That the Assembly take note of the following paper:
Official Visitor Act, pursuant to subsection 17(4)—Annual report 2018-19—Mental Health Official Visitors.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (3.09): I am pleased to table the Mental Health Official Visitor Annual Report for 2018-19. I am tabling this report in accordance with my obligations under the Official Visitor Act 2012. The role of official visitors is important. They aid in the protection of the human rights of vulnerable people by facilitating their access to an independent complaints process, reporting on systemic issues to government and providing an oversight of the accommodation and services that vulnerable people are dependent on.
Official visitors are valued and trusted people in the community who are carefully selected for their role due to their experience and qualifications in the area to which they are appointed. Most importantly, an official visitor is not subject to the direction of anyone else in relation to the exercise of a function under the Official Visitor Act. This level of independence allows official visitors to safeguard standards of treatment and care and advocate for the rights and dignity of people being treated under the Mental Health Act.
In carrying out their functions official visitors are required to identify and report issues of concern. Official visitors provide independent oversight of visitable places,
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