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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2239 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

I would now, just in closing, like to pay tribute to everyone in that system. Those results I mentioned recently in those international competitions speak volumes for the dedication and skills of the respective teachers. Because of the success of our system, I would like to pay tribute to the very dedicated teachers we have and, at the departmental level too, to the dedicated staff within the Department of Education and Training.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Proposed expenditure - Non-Government Schooling, $72,866,100 (comprising net cost of outputs, $1,332,800; and payments on behalf of Territory, $71,533,300) - agreed to.

Proposed expenditure - Vocational Education and Training Services, $8,449,000 (comprising net cost of outputs, $8,389,000; and payments on behalf of Territory, $60,000) - agreed to.

Proposed expenditure - Vocational Education and Training Services through the Canberra Institute of Technology, $50,069,000 (comprising net cost of outputs, $50,069,000) - agreed to.

Proposed expenditure - Children's, Family and Youth Services, $77,150,900 (comprising net cost of outputs, $44,132,900; and payments on behalf of Territory, $33,018,000)

MS REILLY (6.04): Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker - - -

Mrs Carnell: Don't speak for half an hour.

MS REILLY: Surely, in a democracy you encourage discussion and debate, Mrs Carnell.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ms Reilly, address your remarks to the Chair.

MS REILLY: There are a few issues I wish to raise in relation to this part of the budget. In relation to Family Services first, it is pleasing to see the introduction of mandatory reporting and the training that has been implemented so far. But I still want to raise the concerns that I have raised previously, because it is important that we keep this in mind, with the introduction of mandatory reporting: We will need to continue to train people because of staff turnover. People need to ensure that they are trained. We must ensure that there are sufficient funds for training. I am quite sure this Assembly and other people in the community will continue to examine and review how mandatory reporting goes this year, its first year. It is a big step for the ACT; it brings the ACT into line with other States. But it is also important that, by its introduction, we do not actually end up creating more harm than we do by not having it. I see $200,000 has been allocated for more Family Services staff to deal with mandatory reporting. We need to analyse, as the year goes on, Minister, whether this is going to be sufficient funding.

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