Page 3100 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 22 August 2017
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empirical or quantitative measure. Last week and again this morning you again implied that ending the greyhound racing industry was in line with community values. Minister, could you explain how you have deduced that the entire community of the ACT believes that the greyhound racing industry is at odds with their values?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Mr Parton for the question which has been revisited a number of times over recent months. The question is in relation to how we have evaluated that. The clear understanding, which I have given before and I will give again, is that the position was taken to the election last year and it was clearly endorsed by the people of Canberra.
MR PARTON: Minister, what data have you collected other than an election victory to validate your assertion regarding the greyhound industry?
MR RAMSAY: In a democracy I believe there is no higher data.
MR MILLIGAN: Minister, if you have no convincing data, how can you make such statements when you have no basis for doing so?
MR RAMSAY: I reject the premise of the question. We have the data and we are working on the data. We are working to continue to implement the decision that has been made by the people of Canberra.
Government—community organisations support
MR STEEL: My question is to the Minister for Community Services and Social Inclusion. Minister, can you update the Assembly on what the government is doing to support community organisations to improve how they deliver services to the community.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Steel for his question. Of course, the government recognises the crucial support that community organisations provide to many Canberrans. We understand that the sector itself is diverse, encompassing large and small organisations; not for profits; social enterprises and community associations; those that receive government funding; and those that are entirely volunteer based.
In addition to our annual funding support and policy engagement, the community support and infrastructure grants program supports ACT community organisations to deliver programs and services for the benefit of members and the broader ACT community.
Successful projects in the 2016-17 round include $10,000 for Legal Aid ACT towards developing an electronic ACT law handbook that will be available soon on the Australasian Legal Information Institute’s website. The handbook will provide a free, comprehensive and accessible guide on common legal issues including family law, family violence orders, debt, tenancy, public housing and consumer law issues.
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