Page 1630 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 2 June 2021
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commonwealth for that support. I think that is an important investment and that will ease the pressure on one of our community legal centres.
While the commonwealth did observe the need in one area, it does beggar belief that it would fail to recognise the needs of all vulnerable people. The COVID-19 funding was provided for the pandemic. But, as we know, the pandemic is not over, and though it has been less intense its effects are persisting. People are continuing to need this support and the commonwealth has not stepped up in the federal budget to provide that ongoing support, which would have been very welcome and which would have made a significant difference.
We are currently going through our own budget process here in the ACT. As members know, it is a little later this year. We only just did the last budget through February-April and our next budget is due in August. I am keenly aware that community legal centres, including Canberra Community Law, have a very real need to continue resourcing their indispensable work.
As we are talking about people’s jobs here, we will also be aware that those staff need to know as soon as possible whether their jobs will continue—not just the service delivery but the staff who deliver those services. That is why I am glad to say that publicly now, because we have heard about the need for funding. We will provide that certainty as soon as we can within the budget process. I have spoken personally to a number of leaders of these organisations and said that as soon as I can provide them that certainty we will provide them with that information.
To that end, I do have an amendment to Ms Lee’s motion. It has been circulated. It reflects the needs of the whole sector, all the community legal sectors, quite a number of whom are facing budgetary pressures, particularly in light of the failure of the commonwealth budget to provide that to them. It also addresses the fact that we are working on the budget right now and makes clear that we will provide that information to the sector as soon as practical. I am not quite sure when that will be. We are actively working on it right now. I do not know if it will be within seven days but it will be as soon as we possibly can.
To that end, despite the fact that I do have an amendment, I welcome and appreciate the fact that Ms Lee has brought this issue to the chamber today, because support for our community legal centres is vital. They do provide such an important role in our community. I think it has provided us an important opportunity for this whole chamber to reinforce our support for the community legal sector.
I commend my amendment to the Assembly. I think that it reflects the issues raised. It does make the point that we are disappointed by the failure of the federal government in the budget to support the whole sector. As I say, I acknowledge the support for the women’s legal centres in particular, but it has left a gap in areas like Legal Aid and the Canberra Community Law and others.
I now move the amendment that I have circulated in my name.
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
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