Page 3192 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
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expansion of the original themes and the inclusion of key performance indicators against all the themes has made this multicultural strategy a more realistic and practical document. However, I await a response from the minister’s office to understand exactly what items in the strategy have been funded and what items have not.
While the strategy may have good intentions, we do need some detail on what funding will be allocated towards specific programs to action the strategy. In relation to this, I refer to one of the recommendations from the estimates report—recommendation 6, which is that improved accountability indicators be developed for each agency that include expenditure on specific plans that are administered by agencies. This is so when the government develop various plans, such as the multicultural strategy, there is accountability to ensure funding is allocated to programs to action these plans. This is so plans are actually implemented and are not just statements of intent. The government noted this recommendation, but their answer gives no assurances that this will be actioned.
The funding and relocation of Multicultural Youth Services is a welcome move by government. Since last year, the Greens have been working very hard to gather support for MYS. I am also aware that MYS have needed a larger space for their drop-in services for quite a while since the Griffin Centre could no longer accommodate the volume of people they were seeing. The move to the Theo Notaras building is a welcome one, and we congratulate MYS once again on their move and their continued service to Canberra’s refugee community.
With regard to the Multicultural Festival and the arts—an important area for the community here in the ACT—the ACT Greens are supporters of the Multicultural Festival, particularly as it is really the only opportunity where Canberra’s many ethnic communities can come together and celebrate and showcase their cultures. We still need clarity around the funding for the festival, primarily around the money from the multicultural budget which went to the fringe festival and whether or not that will be a permanent funding allocation. On this note, I believe it is important that we recognise that the arts are a vital means of cultural expression for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The ACT Greens believe that the arts can be used as an effective means of communication and a tool to bring people together as a community.
It also has been brought to our attention that there is an increased interest in having a peak multicultural body representing many of the diverse groups in Canberra. I am aware of the history of peak multicultural groups in the ACT. However, I note the important role a peak group could play in informing government. The ACT Greens would like to see the government revisit supporting a peak multicultural body in the ACT.
I would now like to address ageing. The ACT Greens believe that older people have the right to feel safe and live free of abuse, neglect and violence. Providing high quality health and aged care services regardless of income, status, background or location is a policy we support strongly. We also support government and community organisations working together to improve the safety of older people in their homes and in aged care facilities.
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