Page 2222 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2018
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We welcome funding to review the disturbing over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people involved with child and youth protection services, and measures such as family group conferencing for families at risk of ongoing involvement with the child protection system. As I have seen in my own justice portfolio, we must never overlook options for diversion from statutory intervention to avoid cycles of trauma and disadvantage that so often ensue.
We also acknowledge the government’s ongoing commitment to addressing domestic and family violence and sexual assault and abuse with the rollout of the family safety hub and much-needed additional funding for front-line services like the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and DVCS.
The Greens are proud of a decade’s work towards improved transparency and integrity, such as new FOI legislation, an integrity commission to start next year, and establishing officers of the Assembly. The ACT has been a leader in this country on progressive issues like hosting the country’s first pill-testing trial in April this year; investing in substantial urban wetland projects; and improving animal welfare standards for domestic animals as well as hens and pigs.
This year’s budget includes $3 million to establish the ACT’s new independent integrity commission. The Greens have supported this extensively, including at the last election and through the agreement. I believe we will have two sets of legislation to consider on this matter. And I look forward to us passing a model that can give the Canberra community full confidence in ACT government processes and agencies.
The Greens have long called for an investment in our healthcare system to keep people healthy, instead of just treating them when they are sick. The agreement reflects that investing in health is a priority for both Labor and the Greens, and we are pleased to see many key items funded this year.
I particularly note the $34½ million investment to expand hospital in the home, the extensive funding to build a new health clinic for Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, and a further $2 million to continue work on a new nurse-led walk-in centre for Weston Creek. All these investments are about improving health services for people in the community and will help reduce pressure on the acute system. As a Green and as Minister for Mental Health, I am proud of the significant investment this budget makes in mental health services, particularly supported accommodation for people across the continuum of care, as well as support for young people.
As justice and corrections minister, I have been very focused on the parliamentary agreement goal of reducing recidivism by 25 per cent by 2025. I cannot overemphasise the need for a suite of options for offenders, especially those that significantly reduce the likelihood of reoffending. This budget includes some important examples such as the $6 million to continue the intensive corrections order scheme to keep some people out of full-time imprisonment, $1 million to expand the high-density housing community safety program to prevent crime and address offending behaviour and establishing the Warrumbul court in the Children’s Court, a circle sentencing court for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders. We have already seen such success with the Galambany adult circle sentencing court,
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