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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2752 ..

MRS CARNELL: Approval for the $300,000 guarantee for the Canberra Cannons will be given, hopefully, pursuant to subsection 47(2) of the Financial Management Act. As I think I said in question time, the Territory's liability will expire in the year 2000. It will actually expire on 1 July in the year 2000. I understand that tabling of the approval is actually on the draft program for tomorrow.

As well as that, the Canberra Cannons will be working to ensure that they improve their cash flow position. They will be actively and demonstratively examining alternative funding sources and will report regularly to government through BASAT with regard to their cash flow. The provision of this guarantee will enable the Canberra Cannons Pty Ltd to overcome their present cash flow problems and ensure the continuation of a valuable Canberra asset. That is 20 full-time jobs in the Canberra community. Obviously, all of the expenditure by visiting teams and supporters goes into the Canberra community, and the profile of the ACT is increased through national coverage by television, radio and the print media. Along with other successful sporting clubs that give exposure to Canberra, the Cannons reinforce Canberra's image as a vibrant city that is mad on its sport - something that I think is enormously important.

MRS CARNELL: With regard to the question from Kerrie Tucker, I understand that five clients have moved out to date and they did not have an advocate present during the interview process. All five volunteered to move out. The clients, I understand, did not request that an advocate be present. If a client does want an advocate present, then the Mental Health Service will ensure that one is available. I understand an advocate was involved in the process leading up to the proposals to move certain people at Watson and Hennessy out into the community.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, last week Mr Wood asked two questions concerning the numbers of operational police in the ACT Region. Late last week I met with the Commissioner of the AFP and ACT Chief Police Officer, Mick Palmer, and requested him to provide me with further information about staffing in the ACT Region. Members will be aware that the contract between the ACT and the Commonwealth Government is for the provision of a police service to Canberra by the AFP. That contract required, until recently, the provision of 689 police and support staff, of which the ACT would pay for 594. The remaining 95 would be paid for by the Commonwealth and would be, notionally at least, assigned to Commonwealth-type work in the ACT such as Commonwealth fraud and other offences, investigations of which are undertaken under Commonwealth law.

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