Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 2342 ..

MRS BURKE

the next election; that you will fulfil the promises; that the Labor Party will fulfil the promises; but we've changed the goalposts a little bit. That's a little sad because it was an election promise that they were certainly believing in and trusting the Labor Party to deliver. I feel that you've let them down a little there.

Toora is another example. I know that Mrs Dunne has spoken at length about women's services in the ACT and how their needs are being addressed or not addressed. I'm disappointed to see that there are no outreach workers per se. I think I remember Mr Corbell saying something like Winnunga and Toora could tap into the resources given over four years for drug and alcohol workers and mental health workers.

It seems as though many people have been told that they can tap into a single bucket of money. I'm just not sure how that's actually going to work. I'm sure that the minister will correct me if I'm wrong on that. I hope that, again, with a surplus of cash flowing into the territory, the Health Minister will be able to lobby the Treasurer hard for outreach workers particularly. It is a really great and urgent need in our community.

I think funding issues have negatively impacted on those providing such a crucial service to our community. There has been the 11th hour notification of funding for organisations such as Volunteering ACT. I mention their role and capacity in community care in terms of delivery of service and care as many volunteers are, of course, as we all know, carers in our community and save us millions of dollars a year, as I think I've already said tonight.

We've had the report in regard to respite care handed down. Again, I think it's sad really that we have money wasted on that report when the media release, I see, already alludes to the fact that we know there are many problems there. Why weren't these problems addressed in the budget? I think the minister or the government has stated they have been waiting on this report, when in fact their own media release states that they already knew the problems. I'm disappointed that in 2002-03 we see $1 million allocated to respite care, yet in this financial year, 2003-04, we see $35,000 a year, making a total of $140,000 over four years. I believe there needs to be a greater shift towards some of these things.

Again I urge the government-and I hope that it's not too late-to use the forecasted $100 million surplus that we may find ourselves with. I probably think that's a conservative estimate, given the things that we already know and those that we don't know. I hope that the Health Minister and the Treasurer will actually be able to get together and address some of the really deep-seated needs in our community.

It isn't good enough to simply tell groups like the Hepatitis C Council at the 11^th hour-or a week before, or whatever it may have been-about their funding. I really think that's a little unfair, it's a little harsh on these groups to actually plan and project forward how they can best meet the needs of the community and help governments as well. Those community groups and other groups are there to help us all. I think that they have a fair point. They have been left hanging. Many of these people in these organisations are under extreme stress and pressure as a result.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .