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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1755 ..

MRS BURKE (continuing):

vital area being given consideration. This initiative responds to the critical funding request for people with disabilities who have been assessed as having high and complex unmet support needs. The initiative will provide immediate and ongoing support for people with disabilities and their families who have reached a personal crisis and need ongoing support. So, to give credit where it is due, I thank him for that. It is welcoming to see $600,000 from the 2003-04 budget, but more should be done to ensure that the needs of people are being addressed in relation to the recommendations of the Gallop report.

I am very pleased with and welcome the introduction of a lift fee for wheelchair-accessible taxis. As we know, a great burden was placed on taxi drivers and it was very difficult for them as they were compromised, so I applaud the minister for introducing this fee. The initiative enhances the current taxi subsidy scheme by providing for a $7.50 lift fee per hire for wheelchair hirings to cover the costs of the taxi drivers' time associated with loading and unloading customers in wheelchairs from taxis.

The fee will act as an economic incentive to operate wheelchair-accessible taxis and assist in reducing the waiting time for customers in wheelchairs. The fee will be adjusted annually in line with the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission's determination of the waiting time rate for taxis. One comment I would make on that is: what is the justification for indicating that the $7.50 lift fee will provide an incentive to operate wheelchair-accessible taxis? I will wait and see. No doubt, all of us will be getting feedback on how that is or is not working.

On community care, I fully endorse and support funding that helps our carers, namely, the support for carers, so thank you again. This initiative provides for a carer training and support package to allow the program to continue until June 2004. I would like to see something being done beyond that, of course. The funding will also allow for the evaluation of the program, which is most important.

In the forward years the initiative will provide for the education and training of clinical staff on the needs of carers of mental health consumers, peer support training for carers and representation of carers' views to government. The program will support the role of carers and assist with their involvement in the planning and delivery of mental health services. Just to comment again, $35,000 for 2003-04 and subsequently for the forward years does seem a little short of the mark in terms of training funding to ensure that carers are given the best tools and skills to equip them to continue in their supportive role as carers. However, again, some is better than none, so we are thankful for that.

The additional funding under the ACT home and community care program will be welcome. The additional funds will be matched by the Commonwealth, of course. This funding-$700,000 for 2003-04 and subsequently in the forward years-will be welcomed, particularly the injection of needed funds into assisting the frail aged and young people with a disability and their carers to provide them with the independence needed to remain in their homes.

Women's services, unfortunately, have been sadly missed and let down again. I am very disappointed with that. I hope that the minister will keep his ears open a little more next time. I am very disappointed that nothing is represented here. I hope to bring energy and vision to these areas as long I am in this place. After all, we are here for the whole

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