Hansard.Act.Gov.Au Wednesday, 15 August 2018
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NINTH ASSEMBLY 15 AUGUST 2018 www.hansard.act.gov.au Wednesday, 15 August 2018 Petition: Bridge paths—petition 2-18 (Ministerial response) .................................. 2907 Reproductive health products and advice—access .................................................. 2908 Community clubs—taxation .................................................................................... 2920 ACTION bus service—timetable changes ............................................................... 2944 Questions without notice: Taxation—reform ......................................................................................... 2952 Taxation—increases ..................................................................................... 2955 Schools—playgrounds .................................................................................. 2957 Waste—green bins ........................................................................................ 2957 Taxation—unit rating system ....................................................................... 2959 Mental health—efficiency targets ................................................................ 2961 Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders—family services ............................ 2961 Centenary Hospital for Women and Children—upgrade program ............... 2963 ACT Health—executive salaries .................................................................. 2964 Budget—support for emergency services ..................................................... 2965 Education—disability funding ...................................................................... 2966 Budget—assistance for veterans and seniors ................................................ 2967 Budget—pensioner concessions ................................................................... 2969 Budget—pensioner concessions ................................................................... 2970 Tourism—international visitors .................................................................... 2973 Supplementary answer to question without notice: Light rail—safety .......................................................................................... 2974 ACTION bus service—timetable changes ............................................................... 2975 Australian Broadcasting Corporation—funding levels ............................................ 2995 Rulings from the chair ............................................................................................. 3006 Canberra Hospital—radiology department .............................................................. 3007 Adjournment: Senator Fraser Anning—first speech ............................................................ 3024 Senator Fraser Anning—first speech ............................................................ 3026 Territory rights .............................................................................................. 3027 Canberra Symphony Orchestra ..................................................................... 3028 Senator Fraser Anning—first speech ............................................................ 3029 Territory rights .............................................................................................. 3029 Light Up Lyneham ........................................................................................ 3029 Campbell Community Association ............................................................... 3029 Legislative Assembly for the ACT Wednesday, 15 August 2018 The Assembly met at 10 am. (Quorum formed.) MADAM SPEAKER (Ms J Burch) took the chair at 10 am, made a formal recognition that the Assembly was meeting on the lands of the traditional custodians, and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory. Petition—ministerial response The following response to a petition has been lodged: Bridge paths—petition 2-18 By Ms Fitzharris, Minister for Transport and City Services, dated 14 August 2018, in response to a petition lodged by Ms Le Couteur on 8 May 2018 concerning a dedicated bike path between Commonwealth and Kings Avenue bridges. The response read as follows: Dear Mr Duncan Thank you for your letter of 8 May 2018 attaching petition No 2-18 from Ms Caroline Le Couteur MLA regarding a dedicated bike path between Commonwealth Avenue and Kings Avenue Bridges. The walk around Lake Burley Griffin is one of Canberra’s most popular recreation areas and it’s great to see so many locals and tourists enjoying this space. The Central Basin route, which is affectionately known by locals as ‘Bridge to Bridge,’ can be very busy at various times during the day. It’s a space for everyone to enjoy and as a shared space, there is a need for everyone to display courteous and safe behaviours. Cyclists should always slow down and sound their bell when passing pedestrians and all users should keep to the left. The National Capital Authority (NCA) is wholly responsible for the Central Basin loop and the ACT Government works closely with the NCA to ensure that walking and cycling infrastructure meets the needs of the community and that it is safe for all users. The ACT Government is working with the NCA to explore capital upgrades to the highest need areas to improve safety and visitor experience. There is an ongoing campaign to encourage all users to share the path. Key messages of this campaign include observing safe speeds, staying left, being visible and behaving predictably. 2907 15 August 2018 Legislative Assembly for the ACT As part of this educative approach, the ACT Government partnered with the NCA to install signage and pavement markings as well as distributing visitor information to encourage people riding bikes and other recreational equipment, such as in-line skates and scooters, to use the paths responsibly and give way to pedestrians, while encouraging all users to keep left. The ACT Government also works closely with cycling and walking groups to ensure we understand people’s needs and concerns and consider them in prioritising and implementing activities that support active travel. I encourage everyone to be patient and mindful of each other when using the paths around Lake Burley Griffin. It truly is a space for everyone to enjoy and we all need to play a part to ensure this area is safe and enjoyable. I appreciate your assistance in presenting my response to the Assembly. Reproductive health products and advice—access MS CODY (Murrumbidgee) (10.02): I move: That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) the ACT Government has been an historical leader in abortion law reform, having entrenched in legislation that abortion is a health matter and not a criminal matter, thereby protecting women and their reproductive choices; (b) law reforms including legal and regulated access to abortion to make abortions safer for those who access this service; and (c) ACT Government actions have created exclusion zones around the ACT’s legal abortion facility to ensure safe and accessible healthcare have been provided to women; (2) further notes: (a) the stigma which continues to exist in some sections of the community in relation to women’s reproductive rights; (b) pharmacies may refuse to supply any prescription, medicine or item based on the particular religious or ethical views of the particular pharmacist; and (c) the apprehension of rejection for women seeking access to reproductive health services, products and advice; and (3) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) explore options for the introduction of a requirement for health practitioners and pharmacies who choose not to, or choose to, supply relevant reproductive health medications, products and procedures, to display clearly visible signage: (i) to inform consumers; (ii) in plain language; and (iii) outline which particular reproductive health medications, advice and products they do or do not supply; 2908 Legislative Assembly for the ACT 15 August 2018 (b) work with pharmacists, health practitioners and their relevant representative organisations to ensure that their professional standards are met in the supply of reproductive health medications by allowing people, particularly women, to access these products and services without fear of intimidation, humiliation or embarrassment; and (c) remind health practitioners of their ethical obligations in dispensing reproductive health medicines and that this is best practice to ensure continuity of care for a patient. At the start of this speech I think it is only polite to notify members that I will be including references to menstruation, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, awkward teenagers and the supernatural. I have moved this motion today because everyone deserves to be able to go to their pharmacist for confidential and non-judgemental advice. I know I can. I have the most amazing pharmacists who I speak to about all of my healthcare needs—and, let me tell you, there are a few of them. Unfortunately, a small number of Canberrans are not quite so lucky. There are times when a woman needs the support of a stranger; there are times when people go somewhere expecting kind, supportive advice; and there are times when you are faced with what feels like a crisis, and being confronted with lectures and negative judgement means that women will not necessarily get their health needs met. I am not saying pharmacists do not get to have a conscience. I am saying they do not get to entrap vulnerable