2511 Questions and Answers
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2511 PARLIAMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 1999-2000-2001 SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY-SECOND PARLIAMENT ___________ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 89 WEDNESDAY 30 MAY 2001 ___________ (The Questions and Answers Paper is published for each sitting day and will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting day and any new questions. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.) 2512 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 30 May 2001 PUBLICATION OF QUESTIONS ANSWER TO BE LODGED BY Q. & A. No. 79 12 April 2001 (Including Question Nos 1682 to 1714) Q. & A. No. 80 1 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1715 to 1746) Q. & A. No. 81 2 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1747 to 1784) Q. & A. No. 82 3 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1785 to 1815) Q. & A. No. 83 8 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1816 to 1851) Q. & A. No. 84 9 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1852 to 1880) Q. & A. No. 85 10 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1881 to 1908) Q. & A. No. 86 15 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1909 to 1932) Q. & A. No. 87 16 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1933 to 1960) Q. & A. No. 88 21 May 2001 (Including Question Nos 1961 to 1983) Q. & A. No. 89 3 July 2001 (Including Question Nos 1984 to 2035) 2513 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 30 May 2001 Notice of Question given on the date shown 8 MARCH 2001 (Paper No. 79) *1689 THERAPY SERVICES AT THE CRESCENT SSP, GOULBURN—Ms Hodgkinson to the Minister for Community Services, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Women— (1) Is the Minister aware that the Crescent SSP School at Goulburn has been without occupational, speech and physiotherapy services since July 2000? (2) Is the Minister aware that despite her written assurances made during October 2000 the DOCS therapy positions in Goulburn remain vacant? (3) Is the Minister aware of the serious effect the lack of these services is having on the disabled children in Goulburn? (4) What specific action did the Minister take to rectify the lack of these services in Goulburn following her written assurances in October 2000? (5) Why were these actions unsuccessful? (6) What personal action does the Minister now propose to take to fill these positions? Answer— (1) The Dept of Ageing, Disability and Home Care have current arrangements to purchase therapy from private practitioners across all disciplines to specifically meet the needs of Crescent SSP, Goulburn. This arrangement has been long standing in lieu of vacant positions. This has been provided on the basis of referrals generated by the school to the Department. The Department has worked to provide an appropriate response to all referrals by the school that is timely and professional. The Department is unaware of any dissatisfaction with the current arrangements and service to the school. (2) As a consequence of the latest recruitment action the Speech Therapy position has been successfully filled. The position was offered in mid-April and the successful applicant has accepted the position and will start work on the 28 May 2001. The Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy positions remain vacant but the Department has contracted private practitioners in the community for variable hours to meet the demand generated by Crescent SSP and the wider community. (3) The challenge of attracting therapists to rural and remote areas of NSW is a serious issue for disability services in NSW. The frustration and impact vacancies have upon children, adults, families, and communities is recognised and given high priority. When vacancies arise in therapy services, the Department purchases services from the private sector, non-government sector, and through working with other Government Departments, such as the Southern Area Health Service. (4) Vacancies in Speech Therapy have been advertised four times in the previous twelve months. In the latest recruitment action for a speech therapist, applicants were interviewed on 28 March 2001. The position was offered in mid-April and the successful applicant has accepted the position and will start work on the 28 May 2001. Private Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist services continue to be purchased while the Department pursues further recruitment action. (5) See above. (6) The purchase of private therapy in lieu of vacancies will continue and be reviewed to ensure client and community needs are met. This will be supported by ongoing consultation with stakeholders and community partners in Goulburn. 2514 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 30 May 2001 27 MARCH 2001 (Paper No. 80) *1715 CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION—Mr Armstrong to Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Corrective Services, and Minister for Sport and Recreation— (1) Since 1995 how much has NSW Tourism spent on capital construction and improvements for Sport and Recreation in NSW? (2) How much of these funds have been expended in Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong? (3) How much per capita does this represent? Answer— (1) Questions relating to NSW Tourism should be directed to the Minister for Tourism. (2) N/A (See 1) (3) N/A (See 1) *1716 TRANSFER OF PRISONERS—Mr Armstrong to Minister for Fair Trading, Minis ter for Corrective Services, and Minister for Sport and Recreation— What date have you determined for the Department of Corrective Services to assume responsibility for the transfer of prisoners in NSW as opposed to the NSW Police carrying out those responsibilities? Answer— The transfer of responsibility for court escort security functions is an on-going staged program. The Department of Corrective Services and the Police Service will continue to roll out the program in keeping with the government’s commitment in this regard. *1717 ALUMINIUM SMELTER, LITHGOW—Mr Armstrong to Minister for Information Technology, Minister for Energy, Minister for Forestry, and Minister for Western Sydney— What funds has the NSW Government spent from your Department in the development of an aluminium smelter for Lithgow? Answer— The Ministry of Energy and Utilities has not expended any specific funds in relation to the Lithgow Aluminium Smelter (LAS). The NSW Government has taken the position that contract negotiations for projects requiring large amounts of electricity must proceed on a commercial basis directly with the relevant electricity business. This position is consistent with Government policy, the State Owned Corporations Act, and the commercial charter of the NSW Generation Sector. In line with this, there have been detailed negotiations between the Smelter proponents and each generator. However, the NSW Government has now agreed that the Market Implementation Group (MIG) within Treasury, together with the Parliamentary Energy Caucus Committee, will carry out a review to consider the operations of the generators in NSW in the context of a contract with LAS not being finalised. The review is in its early stages and anticipated costs have not yet been identified but would be met from the MIG expenditure allocation. *1718 TAHMOOR DRUG CONSULTATION—Ms Seaton to Minister for Health— 2515 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 30 May 2001 (1) Are you aware of a Drugs and Community Action (Premiers Department) consultation held in Tahmoor in February 2001? (2) How many such consultations have been and will be held around NSW? (3) What is the total cost of the administration and running of these consultations? (4) Were any consultations held between Premier’s Department and the department of (a) Health; (b) DOCS; (c) Juvenile Justice; before this plan was finalised? (5) Why was it that the consultant who visited Tahmoor had no knowledge of discussions ongoing between the CEO of the South Western Area Health Service and myself about a range of community-generated proposals regarding local detox and residential rehabilitation? (6) Why is this information not sought by the Drugs and Community Action group before such consultations, and how much money and effort do you estimate will be wasted as a result of this lack of competent administration? (7) Are you aware that there are no such services in the Southern Highlands and Wollondilly Area? (8) What guarantees will you give that adequate services will be located in the Wollondilly and Southern Highlands areas? (9) What is the total budget of the Drugs and Community Action program and how much is being spent on: (a) administration? (b) programs? (10) How much will be allocated to the Wollondilly and Southern Highlands areas? Answer— (1) to (10) These questions should be referred to the Premier’s Department. *1719 NPWS STAFF FILES—Ms Seaton to Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts— (1) How many National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff have an adverse report attached to their current personal file? (2) Have any complaints been received from current NPWS employees about such reports? (3) Are employees past or present allowed access to this information? Answer— I am advised that the NPWS does not maintain such records and is not aware of any such complaints. In accordance with Premier’s Department guidelines, both present and past employees may access their personnel file. *1720 NPWS OFFICE RENT—Ms Seaton to Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts— (1) What is the annual rent being paid by NPWS for the current NPWS office space? (2) What is the annual cost of cleaning services for the office? (3) What is the floor space of the office? (4) What is the annual cost of electricity and water? Answer— 2516 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Wednesday 30 May 2001 In 1994/1995, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) employed 1197 staff and paid approximately 4 per cent of its total budget in rental costs.