Page 427 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 December 2008

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MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (9.20): The amount of $5.191 million appropriated to DHCS provides emergency relief for carers and acknowledges the contribution made by volunteers. It is now widely understood that the contribution of carers and volunteers is vital to the function of basic amenities and care in our society, and this support for their work in the period of greatest need due to Christmas is urgent. We hope that this money can start reaching people in need before Christmas.

If we were to reflect on a scenario where Canberra’s volunteers and carers were to suddenly cease their activities, we would have to ask the question: where would we be? The value of their contributions is unquestionable and the urgency of this support is also unquestionable. We hope that this will be part of an ongoing campaign to support carers.

The emergency relief for welfare community groups will help people in need and is not opposed by any member of this chamber. It is urgent. The $2.5 million is also supported by all parties and we believe it is a good measure to address the reality on the ground for carers and volunteers. It also addresses this issue of acknowledging the great contribution of volunteers.

The West Belconnen Community Health Cooperative is, as Mr Seselja noted, going to be welcome any time. We agree and hope it will be welcomed soon.

The Greens also support the seniors card directory and recognise that maintenance is required.

With regard to business industrial relations support for community organisations, this is a very important project. As you would have heard from the speeches of both Meredith Hunter and me, we both have worked in the community sector and this is something that is highly necessary. I think Canberra, like all Australian communities, depends on a community sector that plays a great role in providing services in our community and depends on a workforce that is underpaid and increasingly stressed and which is dealing with increasing demands. It seems clear to me that the sector is likely to face increased demands as a result of the financial situation we are in.

In my mind, we need to plan for a new society with a vibrant, adequately resourced community sector. This project gets the ball rolling and looks at how well the community sector is resourced and how feasible the outputs are for the money that goes into them. This is an 18-month project but it is a very good thing that it is starting now.

In regard to item 12, we understand that this appropriation is for capital works, some forward design work for the Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club and $800,000 for the regional community hubs. Given the fall in commercial building activity, there is every reason to be on the front foot when it comes to public infrastructure development. A capital works project such as the Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club needs to be designed and developed through engagement with local communities and likely club users. So moving quickly on the forward design is important in order to get to the building stage earlier than it might have.


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