Page 4545 - Week 12 - Thursday, 26 October 2017
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(7) Will you commit to providing the ACT population clear and detailed breakdowns of expenditure for this, to reassure them that their rates are being spent in a transparent and ethical manner.
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) ACT Government funds will not be used to advocate for “yes” responses to the Australian Government’s postal survey on same-sex marriage. The ACT Government anticipates up to $55,000 of the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer Affairs 2017/18 budget will support community engagement on the issue of LGBTIQ diversity and inclusion during and leading-up to the 2017 SpringOUT Canberra Pride Festival and the Australia postal survey on same-sex marriage.
(2) All expenses associated with the delivery of additional community supports and promotion of LGBTIQ diversity and inclusion have been funded from the budget of the Office for LGBTIQ Affairs, or provided from existing funding across ACT Government directorates.
(3) Nil.
(4) The ACT Government funds a range of community counselling and mental health services that the LGBTIQ community can access. However, the ACT LGBTIQ Community Consortium (the Consortium) and its members deliver specific supports sensitive to LGBITQ community needs.
The Consortium is led by the AIDS Action Council for the ACT and comprises Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, A Gender Agenda and Northside Community Service.
The Consortium is funded approximately $110,000 per annum to promote collaboration among and engagement with service provides supporting the ACT LGBTIQ community.
The Consortium will be resourced an additional $105,000 to deliver additional counselling and wellbeing supports to the LGBTIQ community for a six-month period from September 2017 to February 2018. This support includes additional online and print resources, counselling and therapeutic support, and education sessions.
(5) The Office for LGBTIQ Affairs contacted the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Electoral Commission on Tuesday, 22 August 2017 to seek advice and offer assistance in facilitating the Australian postal survey on same-sex marriage. The Australian Bureau of Statistics indicated it would contact the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate if it required assistance to facilitate participation in the Australian postal survey process. To date no contact has been made.
The ABS have advised that people experiencing homelessness, can participate in the survey by:
• Collecting a survey form from a pick-up location. In addition to delivering survey materials by post, the ABS will have locations in every capital city, and some regional and remote locations, where eligible persons who cannot receive their
materials by post can collect and/or return survey materials from or to an ABS officer.
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