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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 8 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 2555 ..
MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):
An underspend of $16.730 million has been recorded for the financial year. This underspend is attributable to a number of projects that have experienced delays in construction commencement. It should be recognised that delays have occurred during the year owing to unforeseen circumstances. The government has addressed part of this through a range of measures that include introducing new priority projects, advancing projects from the 2000-2001 program to construction commitment in the current year, and accelerating projects in the 1999-2000 program. These variations were necessary to ensure the delivery of high-priority projects and to maintain program expenditure and financing for the year.
Where project substitution or advancement was not possible, the projected underspent amount has been deferred to 2000-2001. Details of these variations are outlined in the report and are also reflected in the 2000-2001 budget papers. In addition, the call tender schedule has been prepared for the 2000-2001 program, providing information on the likely tender and construction dates for all new works projects identified in the 2000-2001 budget papers. This will be circulated to Assembly members and issued to local key industry bodies separately.
I commend the 1999-2000 capital works program full-year report to the Assembly.
MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (3.48): For the information of members I present the following paper:
Health and Community Care-Standing Committee-Report No 5-Respite care services in the ACT (presented 2 March 2000)-Government response.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
The government thanks the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care for its work on this report. Let me say from the outset that the government is fully committed to achieving respite care services that provide positive and meaningful outcomes for all people requiring care and for their carers. It is in this context, and in keeping with the spirit of building social capital, that the government responds to the 21 recommendations of the standing committee.
On the whole, the government agrees with the committee's recommendations, especially with the need to substantially increase the amount of respite care available. Respite care has been identified as a priority in the department's 2000 purchasing strategy for seniors health, and the need to focus on the young and people with disabilities, as well as the aged, is receiving renewed attention. Proof of the seriousness with which we approach this can be found in the significant increase in respite care funding over the last three years, from $1.9 million in 1997-98 to over $2.6 million in 1999-2000.
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