Page 3831 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 30 November 2021
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Legal Aid Commission (ACT)—Part 1.15.
MR CAIN (Ginninderra) (11.15): It is pleasing to see additional funding for legal aid in the territory. Demand is on the increase. I encourage the government to monitor the adequacy of funding for this important sector in our legal community, particularly to assist the vulnerable and needy. The need for legal assistance highlights a broader trend, and I would encourage the government to look at legislative reform to see what processes make legal actions and legal remedies expensive for this community. I welcome the funding for legal aid, and I encourage the government to continue to monitor this important legal service delivery area.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Attorney-General, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Gaming and Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction) (11.16): Members may recall that I spoke about the Legal Aid Commission last week, in my enthusiasm for the justice system. I do not intend to extend my comments too long today.
I thank Mr Cain for his remarks and note his comments. The Legal Aid Commission performs an incredibly important role, enabling people who cannot otherwise afford their own personal lawyer to get access to justice. I am pleased, therefore, that the government is able to provide the additional $2.5 million over four years in this year’s budget to support the Legal Aid Commission. I thank the staff over there for their continued hard work. I know that they are all very passionate about their role and very conscious of the important contribution they make to the Canberra community. I thank them for it.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Cultural Facilities Corporation—Part 1.16.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (11.17): It is my pleasure to speak today on the part of the 2021-22 appropriation bill relating to the Cultural Facilities Corporation. I would like to commend the great work that the team at the CFC do. It has been a very challenging two years for the arts. The CFC has been resilient despite these challenges.
I would like to take the opportunity to formally thank the outgoing CEO, Harriet Elvin, who has been in that role since its creation in 1997, overseeing projects such as the commissioning of the Playhouse theatre and the Canberra Museum and Gallery, and carols at Lanyon Homestead. I have always found Ms Elvin to be a very strong advocate for the arts and cultural facilities in the ACT. Her leadership in this space has been inspirational. I wish her all the best for her future endeavours and her new academic career. I am confident that she will achieve great things wherever she goes.
I take this opportunity to welcome a former arts minister and former member for Ginninderra, Gordon Ramsay, to the role of CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation. Whilst he has big shoes to fill, I am confident that he will continue to do great work for the CFC.
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