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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 959 ..

APPENDIX 1: Incorporated in Hansard on 8 April 1997 at page 696

MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND FAMILY SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

TAKEN ON NOTICE 27 FEBRUARY 1997- INCORPORATION INTO HANSARD

Emergency financial assistance for families

MR OSBORNE - asked the Minister for Housing and Family Services:

It seems there is $16,000 still left unspent this financial year. If that is the case, are you aware that families are often being turned away from being able to claim these type of emergency payments and I have also been informed from some families that staff are actually having to pay for some emergency services because there is not funds that they are able to access. Are you aware of that?

MR STEFANIAK - the answer to Mr Osborne's question is:

In the 1996/97 financial year, Family Services has budgeted a notional amount of $25,000 for emergency financial assistance for families.

At 28 February 1997, $11, 490 of this had been expended.

This leaves an amount of $13,510 remaining available until the end of the financial year.

Requests for financial assistance for families tend to be difficult to predict and some times of the year generate more of a demand than others. Families can apply for this assistance from either the Tuggeranong or the Belconnen office of Family Services.

It is not correct that Family Services staff are having to pay for some emergency services because there are no funds able to be accessed. There was a difficulty accessing funds for a few weeks at one point as there was a delay in funds being placed in the Family Services budget after the supply period. This was rectified however some time ago.

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