Page 495 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 28 June 1989
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If I can go on, Mr Speaker, in response to the question raised by Mr Moore, the ACT Cancer Society received $25,580 in 1988-89, which was a 53 per cent increase over its 1987-88 grant of $16,650. This, I am informed, was to fund its home visitation program, which provides support to cancer sufferers in their own homes, and to expand administration support services of the society.
The society is one of 115 funded organisations, so we just cannot consider in the funding arrangements that organisation by itself because, as I am sure Mr Moore will appreciate, any additional funding which might be provided to the Cancer Society has in itself an impact on one of the other 114 funded organisations. They all have their existing operational grants maintained at the current level to the end of 1989.
Indexation will be considered in the context of the ACT budget. Funding for the ACT Cancer Society would be considered in the light of overall priorities and available resources for the community services and health State grants program.
In relation to the provision of additional office accommodation, my department provides subsidised accommodation for the society at its Health Promotion Centre, Childers Street, City. This centre is currently fully occupied by community organisations and some ACT Community and Health Service personnel.
The department maintains a register of community organisations seeking new or additional accommodation. The department is aware of the society's requirements for more office space, but no suitable accommodation has yet become available. There is a strong demand by community groups for permanent office and meeting space in premises under the control of the service and in centres under lease to community organisations.
Currently there are 37 organisations, including the ACT Cancer Society, registered by the service as requiring accommodation. There is a big demand on that accommodation, and due consideration has to be given to all of the applicants. All possible options are being examined to see whether there are ways of meeting this demand. However, the reality is that not all groups will be able to be given the accommodation that they would like.
The department is consulting with community organisations on priority needs, and I am happy for an officer of my department to meet with the ACT Cancer Society to discuss its accommodation requirements. I must say, Mr Speaker, that I would request of Mr Moore that in future when he seeks to lend support to worthy organisations such as the ACT Cancer Society, he should not give the appearance of cheap headline grabbing; rather he should examine the matter and find out all of the issues, and a more sensitive
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