Page 321 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 1990
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
they are treated normally, as far as is possible, in their needs for accommodation, human rights, recreation, access to employment, transport, education and so on. The Government seeks an early conclusion to the development of a memorandum of understanding between the Commonwealth and the ACT Government, to define areas of responsibilities and types of services to be provided. This is an essential first step before identifying any gaps or deficiencies in service provision. The Government will also be consulting closely with service providers for people with disabilities and with umbrella bodies such as ACROD.
One of the most forgotten areas of our community is that of veterans, the people who have served their country so well. I have accepted responsibility for this group and I will be entering into consultations with veterans' representatives to see how their needs can be better met within our budgetary situation.
Another sector that has received inadequate attention in the past has been our ethnic community, in particular the area of needs of people from non-English speaking backgrounds. I am conscious of the increasing responsibility that the Commonwealth is transferring to the States and territories in these areas and I have requested the preparation of several key plans covering questions of access and equity and settlement needs for newly arrived migrant members of the community. In addition, my Government is participating in several national studies, for example on the needs of women from non-English speaking backgrounds, and is also starting to compile a body of literature and research so that we can more objectively monitor their needs.
Mr Speaker, the Alliance is determined to put in place a strategy to cover these issues to ensure social equity and I trust that Labor, in opposition, will join with us in that strategy.
MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (4.25): I am very pleased to be speaking on this subject which has been raised by Mr Berry, although I must admit to some degree of disappointment in Mr Kaine's opening remarks. I do not believe that this is the sort of subject where we need a combative approach or the sort of mud-slinging in which Mr Kaine has indulged in the opening remarks of his speech. Quite clearly this has been put on the agenda today as a matter that the Opposition believes is a matter for concern for everybody in this Assembly and I, for one, would never accuse anybody opposite of not having a concern in this matter. Mr Kaine seems to think it is a suitable subject for political point scoring, and I do not.
It has been a traditional concern of the Labor Party, whether in government or in opposition, that those people in our community who suffer disadvantage should have special programs and special provisions made for them. The Labor Party is concerned for the battlers in our community,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .