Page 3752 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009

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The Greens have engaged with members of the community who have expressed their support for this bill, including the ACT Council of Social Services. While it is, in effect, a simple procedural change, it has significant ramifications for those in our community who continue to volunteer their time on committees of community organisations but who are nervous about having their personal contact details so readily available to the public.

The Greens thank the government and the opposition for supporting this bill in the Assembly today. We look forward to it making a real difference for those tireless people in the community who volunteer their time on association committees and ensure that those community groups are able to operate as effortlessly as possible.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Defence and veterans communities

MR HANSON (Molonglo) (5.56): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) recognises:

(a) the important role played in the ACT community by Defence Force members and their families, ex-service personnel, veterans and their families and the surviving dependants of Defence Force personnel; and

(b) the important role played by ex-service organisations in the ACT and their great contribution to community life;

(2) notes the initiatives that have been implemented in other jurisdictions that support veterans’ communities; and

(3) calls on the Stanhope-Gallagher Government to review its support to defence and veterans’ communities in the ACT.

It is with great pleasure and a degree of honour that I rise to recognise the important role played by Defence Force families, personnel, veterans and ex-service members in our community. It is certainly an important role. It is important also to recognise the role that is played by the many ex-service organisations in our community. They support not only members but also other elements of the community. There is much that can be done, as I will outline. I will be calling on the government to do much more in support of our veterans community.


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