Page 2896 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 14 August 2019
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MR WALL: Minister, why is it that there are over 600 identified issues with footpaths in the ACT, and why is it that so many footpaths are in such poor repair?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for his question. The government continues to invest more in city services across the city. We have over 3,000 kilometres of footpaths in the ACT, which is a substantial number, and we are building more in our town centres, in areas where we know that we have missing connections in particular. It is a substantial network and we continue to maintain it and respond to requests to us to deal with identified issues.
Chief Minister—award grants
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, can you outline which community organisations are benefiting from the first round of grant awards from the Chief Minister’s fund and what important services they will deliver with this funding?
MR BARR: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question. I can advise the Assembly that through the first round of grants from the charitable fund 29 local organisations will share in almost $400,000 of grants to deliver a range of important community support services and to complement a range of existing government services. Grants will help groups such the Canberra PCYC, OzHarvest, Parentline ACT, CatholicCare, PANDSI and many others. The programs that they will run with this funding go directly to supporting Canberrans who need help, for example in the areas of parenting advice for people from diverse backgrounds, people wanting to develop work skills to get a job, transitional housing for those at risk of homelessness, and young people who are struggling to connect with their family and peers. It is fantastic to see our thriving non-profit and community support sector working closely with the territory government to deliver on our shared goals of an inclusive and connected Canberra community.
MR PETTERSSON: Chief Minister, how has the fund helped to leverage private contributions?
MR BARR: It has been pleasing to see that the fund has generated significant interest by and coordination with private philanthropy in Canberra. There are some very practical examples of this, such as the Snow Foundation’s support for Orange Sky Australia to run its social impact washing program. The John James Foundation is supporting the Humour Foundation to run a clown doctors program at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. The Achilles Running Club Canberra and Sharing Places supported projects supported by the John James Foundation. GIVIT and the Master Builders Association are providing further in-kind support to grant recipients, including the Shepherd Centre. The government, through the office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, is supporting projects put forward by Toora Women Inc, A Gender Agenda and the Domestic Violence Crisis Service.
I thank these private philanthropic groups for joining with the charitable fund to coordinate their activities and funding to provide a better outcome for Canberrans.
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