Page 2538 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
consulted! Government had already made up its mind when it got around to talking to them.
The expansion of the community fire units networks was something that I have always been vocal in supporting, and the Greens are glad to see the increased commitment of resources to this initiative. The Auditor-General’s report on FireLink seems to vindicate the minister, although there is some, and I am not sure how much, substance to the Opposition’s criticism of the minister as he dutifully defended the indefensible before the system was pulled. More money is allocated to services for victims of crime over the next few years. This is welcomed, but I am concerned about a lack of clarity in this policy. A large part of this funding is going to the victims of crime coordinator. I think it would be better to provide more long-term support services to victims of crime, particularly victims of violent crimes and sexual abuse.
The human rights commissioner’s office received some of the overall funding that was taken away when the various commissioners’ offices were amalgamated. I think the human rights office has proved its worth with its human rights audits of Quamby and Belconnen Remand Centre. I welcome the commitment of proactive intervention by the Human Rights Commissioner—unlike Mr Mulchay, obviously—but I am still disappointed by the lack of support for better compliance certificate processes. (Second speaking period taken.) It would be far more effective in entrenching Liberal-proofing respect for human rights in the ACT if the commissioner were directed to include even just an outline of the reasoning that has been applied, together with the compliance certificates. That has been asked for both by me and by the scrutiny of bills committee, our legal affairs committee. The certificates could play an educational role in themselves.
Just to touch on a couple of other things, the Office of Fair Trading has an extremely important role to play in a system which is driven by consumer complaints and that is the only time that the system kicks in on the whole. If we are going to have empowered consumers, we need an empowered and well-resourced Office of Fair Trading. I do not believe it is adequately resourced to do that job and consequently that it can perform its role with the application and rigor that is required. There are serious issues with high-risk credit products—that we have just been talking about in this place—product labelling and truth in advertising that are not being addressed. The recent scandal with Woolworths making misleading environmental claims for safer products is indicative of the extent of this problem.
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra - Leader of the Opposition) (11.10): Mr Deputy Speaker, I have a truncated version of my speech. Let me come to corrective services first. Corrective services is fast becoming an issue that divides the community. Government spending on corrective services has the potential to spin out of control. In order to contain the costs of the prison, the government has wound back by reducing the number of beds to 300 from 374—we had a lot of discussion on this in estimates—not providing a facility for an on-site dog squad, not building a gymnasium until the prisoners themselves build it—and there was an interesting debate in the media recently on that—and not providing a quiet area. It is clear that the government has not been able to deliver this project on time or on budget, and the minster’s mantra of “staying inside the budget envelope” brings new meaning to the term “staying on message”.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .