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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 12 Hansard (19 November) . . Page.. 3716 ..

MS REILLY (continuing):

It was impressive, as I said earlier, to see the reaction of the Government to various crises in the community. I am quite sure the people who are running the Friendship House in O'Connor are pleased to have the $50,000. But did we have to wait for a crisis before we looked at the management and administration of that house? Why was this money not made available so people could offer a full service within that house? Far be it from me to suggest that people take actions to get a response. What do people have to do to ensure they can access services in this town? It is frightening to think what people might be forced to do to get a service.

Ms Follett: Yes, smash all the windows.

MS REILLY: Maybe it will be a glazier-led recovery in the ACT. One of the other important aspects of delivering community services in this town is proper award wages for the people who are working in this industry. We have seen the situation where there has been an award developed over a number of years. It took years for this award to be developed. I am referring to the SACS award. Some of the community organisations have been logged against this award, but do they know what is going to happen? Do they know that they will get money to pay proper salaries to their workers? No, they have been left dangling. They have been left wondering what is going to happen when they are paying their employees proper salaries that reflect the standard and quality and skill of their workers. They are competing for tenders to deliver services in the future against organisations that are not concerned about what level of wages they pay.

There is no recognition being given to those organisations which have logged for the SACS award, who respect and treasure their workers and pay proper award wages, as against those organisations which are unconcerned about the level of wages paid to employees. They are left uncertain about their futures. If a community service is uncertain about the future and whether it will be continuing to deliver services, what does it do to their clients? What does it do to the people in the community who depend on these services, never knowing when a service will stop because the employees can no longer be paid? Why is it considered acceptable within the social and community service sector to underpay workers? Why do we not respect the skills and quality of work of those people? They are providing services to the frail aged in our community. They are providing services to people with a disability. They are ensuring that all people within the community can participate fully within our community, but we do nothing to assist and facilitate these people.

Mr Humphries: That is not really true. It is a slight exaggeration. It is a huge exaggeration.

Ms Follett: Have you funded the SACS award?

MS REILLY: No, they have not, actually. They said there might be some money in some parts, but if you are providing a service in a youth service you can forget about the SACS award. (Further extension of time granted) One aspect of community services is those provided under the home and community care program, which is a joint program with the Commonwealth. As I said previously, any of the dollars there that are matched by the ACT Government are forced by the requirements of the Commonwealth.

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