Page 856 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 25 July 1989
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the ACT and to provide training assistance to new businesses.
Environmental initiatives totalling $800,000 are also proposed. These include the funding of the task force established to undertake a review of heritage sites; a community based tree planting campaign to promote better soil management and environmental benefits; strengthened controls in relation to hazardous chemicals, pesticides, noise, water pollution and the disposal of clinical waste; and improved water containment measures on landfill sites.
In addressing social justice concerns a wide range of initiatives is proposed, amounting to $2.5m in 1989-90. Issues relating to women, youth and community health are specifically addressed. Measures include the establishment of a social justice and women's affairs unit, assistance in anti-discrimination activities to complement the establishment of an ACT office of the Human Rights Commission and the provision of establishment grants under a new women's business enterprise program to assist women to undertake business ventures. We will also establish an additional domestic violence refuge and extend the women's health service.
In response to the Burdekin report on youth homelessness we will implement a number of proposals to address some of the shortfalls in existing services available to young people. In particular, we intend to establish a youth outreach worker program to provide information, support and job planning services to long-term unemployed teenagers. We will employ nine school liaison officers to assist in the prevention and minimisation of youth homelessness, and we will also strengthen the child abuse assessment clinic. Financial support will be provided for the Conflict Resolution Service which began in March on a volunteer basis.
Community health initiatives include improving care for the acute psychiatrically ill, provision of a 24-hour direct access mental health service at Woden Valley Hospital, upgrading the migrant health service and introducing a 24-hour needle collection service, including the installation of disposal units in public toilets.
Other initiatives include improved accommodation and employment support for people with intellectual disabilities and establishment of occasional child-care facilities at Dickson Neighbourhood Centre. A compulsory motorcycle rider training scheme will provide training for all learner motorcycle riders, and a school based driver education program will be introduced. We will also integrate ACT vehicle information with the New South Wales register of encumbered vehicles so that consumers can check whether vehicles are free of debt before purchase.
In addition to these initiatives, I am pleased to announce that the Government will channel an additional $5m into
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