Page 360 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 23 February 1993
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violence can be enhanced. As a result of the Community Law Reform Committees's interim report last year, legislation to strengthen police powers in domestic violence disputes was enacted. The Australian Federal Police can now inform the Domestic Violence Crisis Service of domestic disputes as they occur and the police are now able to search for and seize weapons in domestic violence incidents. This is regarded as particularly important. Previously, police were able to seize weapons but they had no power to search for them. The ACT Government is acting on providing protection for women who are victims of domestic violence. As I have stated and as the Chief Minister has stated, there is a continuing review of the Domestic Violence Act. I believe that as a result women in the ACT can feel more secure and protected, as is their basic human right.
Another very important area that provides women with support and the freedom of choice they are entitled to is child-care. This is not an area that the Liberal Party has been particularly progressive on until the recent announcement of a Federal election, but thank goodness the Labor Government recognises - and has for some years - the importance of child-care, both for the children and for the parents. In fact, the ACT Labor Government recognises the importance of accessible and affordable child-care to enable women to make a choice about entering the work force. The agreement between this Government and the equally progressive Commonwealth Government has allowed for the establishment of 230 new long day care places, 660 outside school hours care places and 230 family day care places in the ACT by 1996 under the terms of the national child-care strategy.
This funding by both governments provides extra support for the many women who make the choice of entering paid employment. Just last year the ACT and Commonwealth governments jointly funded 30 outside school hours care places at Fraser, Turner and Telopea Park primary schools. The ACT Government has also demonstrated its commitment to providing affordable, high-quality child-care for its employees by opening two child-care facilities this financial year. The first of these centres opened at Acton in October last year. This service is managed by Southside Community Service and it accommodates 55 children. The centre is currently operating very successfully at almost its full capacity.
The ACT Government also recognises that some women choose not to enter the paid work force but will require short-term care for young children from time to time. Therefore, recent initiatives to increase occasional care places have been undertaken. There are now 20 new occasional care places at the Calwell neighbourhood centre and a new occasional care service at Taylor Preschool in Kambah is soon to open. By the end of this year the Conder neighbourhood centre will include 10 occasional care places. What we are talking about is choice.
Affordable child-care is a fundamental social and economic necessity in our society. For many women it is one of the most basic requirements for satisfactory and fulfilling lives. Many of the community centres which are funded by the ACT Government also provide child-care for women not in paid employment, but community centres provide much more for women in the ACT, including playgroups and craft and recreational programs. They support the women while educating and caring for their children in the preschool years. Community centres and organisations such as the Majura women's group, the O'Connor family centre and the Calwell neighbourhood centre provide this support to parents. They also provide family support and welfare programs that assist women on low incomes.
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