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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 1858 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

We are disputing the use of relative shares and average student costs as the basis for reducing funding. Even more unfortunate and more inequitable in a way is the Commonwealth's decision to reduce government funding when the split between the two sectors shifts - the so-called enrolment benchmark adjustment. Using relative shares means that, if the proportion shifts towards the non-government sector at a future time when overall enrolments are increasing, then we receive less Commonwealth funding, even though our overall numbers may be going up. That does not necessarily mean it is good news for the non-government sector either, because they do not necessarily get anything more anyway. But it does have this potentially very significant effect on the government sector. Using average costs means that the Commonwealth will remove from funding to the States and Territories more than they will actually save. It will certainly be greater than the Commonwealth actually funds.

I, along with my colleagues in the States and the Northern Territory, am very concerned to ensure that students in our government schools are treated fairly by the Commonwealth and are not disadvantaged by the transfer of funds to non-government schools on the basis of a questionable distribution mechanism. That is something we are looking at very closely. I am pleased that the Commonwealth did acknowledge that maybe they did need to have another look at it. I hope, as a result, we will see some change which will be beneficial not only to the ACT and our students here but throughout the Commonwealth generally.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Debate resumed from 10 April 1997, on motion by Mrs Carnell:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

MR BERRY (4.52): I am pleased to rise to speak to the strategic plan for Healthpact which has been provided to the Assembly. Healthpact is the latest embodiment of what was the Health Promotion Fund established in 1989. Since then, of course, it has developed into a far more vibrant organisation and a far better-funded organisation for the provision of health promotion activities in the ACT. Of course, it is important that these organisations keep a healthy appearance out there in the community in terms of public relations. From time to time, these organisations will need to change their corporate styles and structures to draw attention to the services that they provide. The Health Promotion Fund, as it was first called, I suppose, had just about run its distance and possibly needed another breath of fresh air. As I said earlier, Healthpact is the most recent embodiment of that, with a more formal structure, again embodied in legislation.

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