Page 2784 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 1993
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operates services in the field of youth homelessness. Members of Barnardo's staff have worked tirelessly for a number of years on government advisory bodies such as the Children's Services Advisory Council and the SAAP Ministerial Advisory Committee. The ACT Government fully appreciates the valuable work that has been undertaken by Barnardo's over the years.
Mr Cornwell mentioned in his speech today the term "professional foster care". I would like to take him to task slightly. The concept of professional foster care leads us down a path that presents difficulties for the carers themselves. If the foster care payment is to substitute for a wage forgone, this opens up questions of taxation, award structures and industrialisation. This seems to me to be at odds with the concept of foster care as an alternative to a child's family.
This issue of foster care payments is a problem facing all States. Even in the preliminary research undertaken by Family Services, other States have indicated that they are looking to us, the ACT, as a basis for a review of their own rates. The concern for adequate reimbursement for foster carers is a common one amongst all States. Given the current situation in regard to Commonwealth-State funding, it would be inappropriate for any one State or Territory to move totally out of line or to take unilateral action without serious consideration and extensive consultation with their State counterparts. It is important to note here that there is no threat of a reduction in the number of foster care places in the ACT.
One other comment I would like to make relates to a remark Mr Cornwell made during his speech, I think; if not, it was by way of interjection. Forgive me; I do not recall exactly. It reflected on young people, and particularly young girls, in other or less well-funded placements than Barnardo's, in terms of the risk or outcome they may face in their life as a result of that ill-placed placement. Forgive my choice of words, but I find it very difficult to address this issue. I found it incredibly upsetting and a possible slur on all of those young girls who are placed in areas other than Barnardo's, and I say that with the greatest of respect to Barnardo's.
Foster care in the ACT and, indeed, Australia-wide is a very important part of developing a safe, stable and caring environment for those children and young people in need. The ACT Government will continue to support these children and young people in the most appropriate and supportive way possible. Members opposite could learn, I imagine, from the Government's commitment to our foster care program. I trust that members opposite take the comments that have been made in the most constructive fashion possible. I trust also that the people from Barnardo's take the comments I have made today in relation to their services in the spirit in which they have been made.
MR DE DOMENICO (4.14): Madam Speaker, I will try to be as brief as possible. I would like to take up one point the Minister made when he was on his feet. He mentioned that the amount of $210.98 included mortgage payments. For the information of the Minister, he was not right. That figure did not include expenditure on the mortgage.
Ms Ellis said that she is always delighted to stand up and talk about social justice, especially after Mr Cornwell has been on his feet. After the happenings of the last Federal budget, I am going to take delight also every time a Labor member of parliament gets up to talk about social justice - - -
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