Page 3031 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990

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APPENDIX 1: (Incorporated in Hansard on 16 August 1990 at page 2970)

Australian Capital Territory

MINISTER FOR FINANCE AND URBAN SERVICES

1 Constitution Ave

Canberra ACT 2601

Ms R Follett MLA

Chairman

Public Accounts Committee

ACT Legislative Assembly

CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Ms Follett ,

Thank you for your letter of 17 May 1990 regarding the funding of the second domestic violence refuge in Canberra and the matters raised in the terms of reference by your Committee on the refuge.

I would like to confirm that the Department of Health had proposed that the costs of the second refuge was $142,000 in 1989-90 and $238,000 in a full year. The proposal met the criteria for funding under the existing Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) Agreement between the Commonwealth and the ACT. In this financial year, SAAP has been funded to a level of $4.2m ($2.4m Commonwealth and $1 .8m ACT). These amounts include a growth provision of $300,000 which is a $1:$1 Commonwealth/ACT ongoing yearly contribution to the base and cost indices to maintain real term funding levels.

The former Government considered that the refuge could be absorbed within this allocation of $4.2m. In addition, an extra $100,000 was allocated to the Department of Health for youth homelessness as a separate approved new policy.

With respect to the issue about separate appropriation, the Audit Act 1989 and Finance Regulations enforce all Territory expenditures to be charged to the correct head of expenditure relating to the programs functions. Currently the Territory appropriates to a Program level within agencies. In this case, SAAP fell under the appropriation for the Community Services and Health Program as SAAP was part of its function. The Administrative Arrangement Order of 13 December 1990 now places SAAP under the Community Services Program, administered by the Housing and Community Services Bureau.

I hope this information assists the Committee.

Yours sincerely

4 JUL 1990


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