Page 245 - Week 01 - Thursday, 10 February 2022
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client that gay people are broken. If this statement meets the low threshold of a statement of belief, the new bill means that it could be harder for that couple or that client to bring a discrimination complaint in the ACT. These laws will also mean that not-for-profit religious healthcare providers can discriminate against patients. We worry that LGBTIQ+ and HIV-positive communities who may need to disclose their identities in order to receive appropriate services will self-select out of seeking services from religious bodies, and put their physical health at risk.
Municipal services—firewood deliveries
MR CAIN: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. I refer to a regular firewood delivery service carried out by a TCCS vehicle that has been occurring in McConnel Crescent, Kambah. You wrote to a constituent about this service on 4 February, stating that the service is no longer available, but the constituent says that the service is still continuing. Minister, are there any ACT government trucks delivering firewood in Canberra? If so, can all Canberrans access this service?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for his question. I will come back on notice in answer to that.
MR CAIN: Perhaps on notice again: depending on your answer, of course, how can you justify a firewood delivery service be conducted by TCCS, given this government’s stance on household wood fireplaces? Could you include that in your answer on notice?
MR STEEL: I refer the member to the answer to the last question.
MS CASTLEY: If this is not a service provided by TCCS, Minister, what other services are being provided by your directorate without your knowledge?
MR STEEL: TCCS provides a whole range of different services to the Canberra community. One of those, which we funded in the budget last time, was around what we can do with wood material that comes from our urban forests when trees have died. We have a lumberyard at Curtin which takes that material. It is often chipped down. We work closely with community groups regarding the use of that material. I am not sure about the circumstances in this particular case, but TCCS try to work to support the community where they can with the resources that they have.
We are looking at how we can expand the use of that material. This is really valuable material, and if we can make sure that it gets recycled and used by community groups, and through our government services as well, in terms of providing nutrients and mulch around our new trees, it makes a big difference. We have a range of services, and I will come back in relation to that specific issue on McConnel Crescent.
Education—funding
MR HANSON: My question is to the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. Minister, in the latest Productivity Commission ROGS report, under “Real Australian
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