Page 2477 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 18 August 1993
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As well, the Federal Government will fund a public awareness campaign on the proposed changes to the Industrial Relations Act 1988 which affect women workers in particular. Women will particularly benefit from the Government's commitment to meet the demand for work-related child-care. Members opposite may not be aware of this fact, but the majority of Australian families no longer conform to the traditional image of a family with a male breadwinner and a wife at home responsible for the majority of domestic and caring tasks.
Mr De Domenico: I wonder who wrote this speech.
MS ELLIS: I did, in fact. For this reason, the need for child-care is increasing all the time. A 30 per cent cash rebate scheme, free of income test and providing up to $28.20 per week for one child and $61.20 per week for two or more children, will be introduced from 1 July. The rebate will be available for all work-related child-care expenses. This will benefit an enormous number of women and families throughout the ACT, who will receive income support for their child-care expenses.
The Federal Government's commitment to social justice does not stop there. Members opposite may be interested in initiatives benefiting families. The continuation of Medicare has ensured that families in our community have access to medical services, regardless of their financial status. Social justice initiatives for families would have been sadly lacking under the Opposition's rejected Fightback document, and I mention it because they continue to mention it. Nonetheless, the Federal Labor Government believes that more, not less, needs to be done to assist families. The doubling of funds available for palliative care will benefit many in our community, including the carers and the families of our sick and elderly. Health care coverage will this year be expanded to include dental care. A Commonwealth dental program will provide access to free dental services for low income families who are least able to afford proper dental care. This is a major initiative which I personally have been very keen to see happen for a long time. Dental care is a necessary but very expensive form of health care, and I am very pleased to see that families on low incomes will be able to receive the same services that many in our community take for granted.
One major initiative for families, and one that again will benefit many women, is the introduction of the home child-care allowance. This will provide an independent source of income for dependent partners while they are out of the paid work force caring for children. The Federal Government will also be providing increased funding for play groups and for long-day child-care assistance to users of occasional care services. Child abuse and neglect is one of the most serious social problems that exist in Australia today. The Federal Government has announced the provision of funding to develop a national prevention strategy for child abuse and neglect which will allow the continuing research into and prevention of child abuse, as well as support for families in the care of children.
In these times of high unemployment and increasing pressures socially and financially on young people it is important that the Federal Government maintain and increase its support services to young people, particularly those at risk. To this end, the Federal Government has extended the successful students at risk, or STAR, program for a further two years. This program identifies those students most at risk of not completing secondary schooling and encourages their continuing participation by supporting a range of school based projects.
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