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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 1972 ..

MS TUCKER: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Basically, what you are saying is that you have not spent it.

Mr Stefaniak: No.

MS TUCKER: I would then ask what the comment of the Minister would be on the fact that, when Mrs Carnell tabled the budget last year, she said:

These additional resources will provide hundreds of Canberra students with greater opportunities to receive specialist assistance right now, when they most need it.

MR STEFANIAK: Ms Tucker, I think even you would have to agree that this Government has made a significant advancement in terms of assisting people with literacy and numeracy problems and doing things in our schools there. You would also appreciate that, when a reference group seeks an extension of time to consider the use of the funds, that is very important. It is important to get this right, Ms Tucker, and it is important to let the experts actually have their input. If they want a bit more time to get it right, far be it from me to say, "No. Let us do it immediately". I think it is important to get it right.

Ms Tucker: They have taken a year. There has been a need for a year.

MR STEFANIAK: You would be the first one to complain, Ms Tucker, in relation to something, if you did not like the way it was spent. So, I think it is fair enough if they want an extension of time.

Mr Kaine: It is a process of consultation.

MR STEFANIAK: It is. I am pleased to see that I am going to receive the report very shortly. Certainly, the Government is quite happy to give them an extension of time, because these people are the experts. They know what they are doing, and I think it is important that we take note of their views and come up with a good formula and a good allocation of those funds to where they are needed most.

MS REILLY: My question is to Mr Stefaniak as Minister for Family Services. Minister, what are the current arrangements for children who are under the care of Family Services and who are required to be transported to access visits to their families? Does a member of Family Services staff accompany these children to ensure that they reach the right place?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question. I am aware that there are varying ways in which access actually occurs. Access can occur, of course, in some instances - where it is difficult to access - at the Family Services office. I am aware of a number of instances where there is supervised access. In other instances, assistance is given to transport people for access. Indeed, on occasions when there is a mix-up, quite often my office is made aware of that and we do our best to sort that out.

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