Page 1967 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 15 June 1994
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Madam Speaker, it is our intention to provide this unit, to have the full range of health services in Woden Valley Hospital, but not this year. We cannot solve every problem in one budget and, unlike the Opposition, we will not make silly promises that we cannot keep.
Child-Care
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Housing and Community Services. Can the Minister outline the effect of the allocation in the recent magnificent Follett budget for expansion of the national child-care strategy?
MR LAMONT: I thank the member for his question. In the International Year of the Family this is another example of the Follett Labor Government delivering. Madam Speaker, what in fact we are - - -
Mr Cornwell: You have it mixed up with a Pryor cartoon.
Mr De Domenico: Mother's milk.
MR LAMONT: I can understand why you would make that suggestion, Mr De Domenico, when you regard politics as something that belongs in Play School, which is demonstrative of the way you have been dealing with these matters consistently since your election to the house.
Madam Speaker, in this budget the ACT Government has committed funds for the remainder of the extended State-Commonwealth national child-care strategy which was agreed to in 1993. The extended national child-care strategy, when complete, will have established 230 long day care places, 660 outside school hours care places and 230 family day care places in the ACT over the four years from 1993 to 1996. This new funding announced in yesterday's budget will provide the capital and recurrent funding for 82 new long day care places and 150 new year-round outside school hours care places in 1994-95 and 93 new long day care places and 210 year-round outside school hours care places in 1995-96. Madam Speaker, the new services will be provided in areas of high need for child-care as recommended by the Children's Services Planning and Consultative Committee and agreed to by the ACT and Commonwealth Ministers. The first child-care centre for Gungahlin will be built with this funding. It is expected to be co-located with the new preschool at Nicholls, enabling the community to benefit from the comprehensive early childhood services at one location.
Madam Speaker, the ACT community is already benefiting from the establishment of 75 long day care places, 160 family day care places and 740 outside school hours care places under this strategy. In addition, a new long day care centre under construction at Greenway in Tuggeranong will provide another 40 places.
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