Page 3004 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 14 September 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
electricity concessions will be extended to all holders of health care cards, including people in receipt of Newstart, Jobsearch and training allowances. To reflect the realities of our climate, the existing winter electricity concession period will be extended to include the June and November billing periods. This extension will assist the elderly and young families, who often spend much of their time at home during the colder months. The Government will commence discussions with AGL about the scope for further gas concessions.
To assist in funding these new concessions, the existing 50 per cent rates concession to pensioners will be limited to $300 per annum from 1 July 1994. This will bring the ACT into line with practices in other States, but will remain one of the most generous rates concessions in the country. At the same time, new provisions will be introduced which will allow concessional rates to be deferred, thereby assisting ratepayers with substantial assets but low incomes. The Government will also introduce legislation to limit the diesel fuel franchise exemption to home heating use by holders of health care cards and pensioner health benefit cards. Concessions for motor vehicle registration by pensioners and beneficiaries will be limited to one car, trailer and caravan per recipient. The anomalous registration concessions for farmers and the clergy will be abolished. We will seek full compensation from the Commonwealth for the revenue lost in free registration and licences for diplomats.
The needs of women will continue to receive the Government's attention. The budget provides the first of three years' funding for a community awareness program to eliminate violence against women and children. A halfway house will be established for women with alcohol- and drug-related problems. The budget will provide a shelter for homeless men and associated support services close to the city centre.
The needs of our children have not been overlooked. In this budget, a number of initiatives are aimed at responding to these needs. The community has shown increasing concern at the growing number of reported incidents where children are severely injured as the result of abuse. The Government is determined to take positive action. This budget expands our capacity to assist children at risk of abuse. It will permit better assessments of the circumstances of abused children and the provision of those assessments to the legal system. Within the education system, our efforts to integrate children with special needs into mainstream schools will be stepped up. A program to promote awareness of Aboriginal culture will also be undertaken in ACT schools, together with pilot projects in Aboriginal languages. Our capacity to assist people with mental dysfunction or severe behavioural problems will be upgraded with the establishment of an after-hours crisis service and an acute behaviour management unit.
The well-being of ACT residents is dependent to an important degree on public services. One of those areas is public safety and the perceptions of safety. Canberra is a safe city, but that can lead to complacency. This budget makes provision for a community safety strategy aimed at preventing crime and developing a safer Canberra. Community projects, including a safety house system, will be key components of the strategy. The Quamby youth centre will be completed through this budget and will provide modern secure accommodation for young offenders.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .