Page 1298 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 23 August 1989
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
The following answers to questions were provided:
Child-care Facilities
Ms Follett: On 22 August 1989, Mr Kaine asked me the following question:
I address a question to the Chief Minister in connection with two aspects of her portfolio - planning and the Treasury. It has to do with the provision of a child-care facility in the parliamentary zone at a cost of $480,000, as shown in our budget. At the same time, there is provision in the Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce budget for $300,000 for a child minding facility at Black Mountain. Are the arguments for the ACT to pay for the child minding centre in the parliamentary zone not the same as those that would apply to a child minding centre at Black Mountain presumably for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation? If that is true, are we now likely to find the $300,000 for that facility transferred to the ACT budget as well?
I ask a supplementary question on the simple question of justification. The justification for our paying for this facility in the Parliamentary Triangle is that it will be used by ACT citizens and residents. Is it not a fact that such a facility at Black Mountain CSIRO would also be used by ACT citizens and residents? Would the Chief Minister agree, therefore, that the justification for our paying or not paying for the two facilities is the same?
The answer to Mr Kaine's question is as follows: In line with normal procedures, work based facilities are not eligible for capital funding from either the ACT or the Commonwealth children's services program. Work based child-care falls outside the guidelines for capital funding provided to community based child-care and is not part of the planning and decision making processes required for these programs.
The child-care facility proposed for CSIRO at Black Mountain will provide work based child-care for the exclusive use by staff of that organisation. The decision to establish work based child-care for CSIRO staff is an internal management decision and the funding is being allocated from CSIRO's budget. The facility at Black Mountain will therefore not be eligible for any Commonwealth Government subsidy or fee relief.
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