Page 174 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2016

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Only a few short years ago, when the Chief Minister was education minister, he attempted to cancel support for teachers of the hearing impaired and the sight impaired. It was only when the Canberra Liberals highlighted the appalling unfairness of that decision that eventually the decision was reversed. Once again the Canberra Liberals are forced to highlight this mean-spirited action of the same minister, now Chief Minister and Treasurer. We can only hope that Mr Barr has a close look at what the priorities for this government of his should be and reverses this decision.

We see over half a million dollars go to recreational sport for sand courts that will benefit less than half a per cent of Canberrans. I think that even that is being generous in relation to the percentage we are talking about. We see spending of $780 million on a tram that will benefit one per cent of Canberrans. Yet this service, which is asking for less than $40,000 but is used by 10 per cent of Canberrans, does not make economic sense and is not good policy for this government—for Mr Barr or for Dr Bourke as the new minister in charge of this area.

I trust that this unintended consequence of the NDIS rollout is just that—unintended—and that the government will understand and appreciate the valuable service that 1RPH provides not only to our vision impaired but also to others with mobility issues, to our migrant community who struggle to read material in English, and to those in short-term poor health who want to keep up with local news.

I take this opportunity to thank all of those who have given great service to this organisation. There are a great number of them. It is also appropriate that, in the week he is celebrating a milestone birthday, I recognise the work of Robert Altamore, a great vision impaired advocate, for his commitment to this organisation.

I urge the government to see reason, show compassion and heart, and support this very worthwhile organisation in our community.

Question put:

That Dr Bourke’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 9		Noes 8
Mr Barr	Ms Fitzharris	Mr Coe	Ms Lawder
Ms Berry	Mr Gentleman	Mr Doszpot	Mr Smyth
Dr Bourke	Ms Porter	Mrs Dunne	Mr Wall
Ms Burch	Mr Rattenbury	Mr Hanson
Mr Corbell		Mrs Jones

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

MRS DUNNE (4.15): Madam Deputy Speaker, I am disappointed that one of Canberra’s really important community services could not be supported in this place by the majority of members in the Assembly. As a colleague has just said to me, you

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