Page 113 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989

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misconduct. The unit noted that present procedures have been designed to ensure that a recurrence of the above lapse does not recur. As a result of this inquiry the investigations unit has decided to review other procedural systems in the Lands Branch concerning variations to commercial leases and the practice of commuting land rent from an annual rent to a lump sum payment. These matters relate only to administrative procedures. There is no suggestion of any misconduct by officers on this matter.

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

MR BERRY: Yesterday Mr Stefaniak asked me a five-part question about the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Contact directory. The first question was: Was a grant for $32,141 approved from the Community Development Fund for 1988-89 to the Citizens Advice Bureau to assist in the publication of the Contact directory? I have been briefed by my department on that matter, and the answer to that question is yes.

The second question which was asked was: Were payments of $16,070 made in approximately July and October 1988 to the Bureau? The answer with which I have been provided in response to that question is yes.

The third question was: When can this directory be expected? The answer to that is that the new Contact directory will be launched on 26 June 1989. Fourthly, did the grant include funds for computing equipment? If so, what will happen to this equipment after Contact is published. The answer to that is that the grant included an amount of $9,535 to upgrade the Citizens Advice Bureau's community information systems to allow for the production of service listings and directories.

Following the publication of the Contact directory the computer equipment will be used by the Citizens Advice Bureau to maintain its database for the provision of community information and the production of future editions of the Contact directory.

The fifth part of the question asked: Does the Minister believe that this publication must continue under public patronage? The provision of freely available community information is important in helping people in need to access appropriate support services. The Contact directory will be available for use by all ACT residents. However, its primary focus will be to provide information on basic health, welfare and community support services to the disadvantaged members of our community.

As such it will be an important part of implementing a social justice strategy in the ACT. The Citizens Advice Bureau has been encouraged to seek commercial sponsorship to assist in the production of the directory. The funding


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