Page 3146 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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On the multicultural portfolio, the main focus of multicultural affairs in the budget is additional funding for the Multicultural Festival and employment support programs. Employment is an important part of helping people to engage in their community economically and socially, and it is good to see this program receive additional funding. The Multicultural Festival involves the Canberra community as a whole, with different cultures. The Greens would like to see increased emphasis on programs that aim to develop ongoing understanding of different cultures, in particular multi-faith religious understanding.
I asked a question through estimates on the ACT multicultural grants program, which included asking about who assesses applications for the grants. The answer was that the minister appoints a panel of community members to assess the applications and then make recommendations to the minister. It would be useful to know who is represented on this panel and how the panel members are selected.
With regard to ageing, it was difficult to find specific budget initiatives related to services for older people. While I appreciate that other funded services are relevant to older people, and there is the continuation of programs such as falls prevention and the like which are significant for older people, it is important that we start to see specific initiatives and programs, with the expectation that the number of people over the age of 65 will double by 2030. This is obviously an area where there is also federal funding and responsibility, and I do acknowledge this.
If we are to have strategies like the ACT strategic plan for positive ageing, there needs to be some funding applied to ensure that it actually occurs. We see this often with government plans, and not just here in the ACT, where these plans are developed but then little progress is made on specific programs or initiatives when they are not funded as part of the strategy.
In answer to a question I asked through estimates on the strategic plan for positive ageing, the answer stated that “it was not a plan with an allocated budget, but rather, it sought to focus government resources on priorities identified by the seniors community”. That is all well and good, but given the increase in the ageing population there will have to be a time when we do not try to fit older people into existing programs but look to design services which are specific to older people’s needs.
It was good to hear the government announce the survey that will be undertaken with older people in the ACT, and that this will look to see where there are service needs. I would like to note also that the older persons assembly will take place in September, and I would hope that any recommendations made will be acted on by the government and have an impact on future services and policies on ageing in the ACT.
The Council on the Ageing made a budget submission requesting funding for mainly health-related items. The main item was for a mobile dental clinic to minimise travel difficulties for older Canberrans, particularly those in aged-care facilities. This proposal was not funded. I spoke about this in my in-principle speech, and while I again recognise there are ongoing discussions at a federal level on dental care, there is still no resolution on this and it does appear that it probably will not receive funding,
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