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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 4123 ..

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister): Mr Speaker, I ask for leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on fairness and opportunity.

Leave granted.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am pleased to deliver to the Assembly today a report on the fairness and opportunity policy of this Government. Members will recall that in November last year this Assembly unanimously passed the motion moved by me in support of Aboriginal reconciliation and multiculturalism. The initial motion put was subsequently amended by the Assembly to include a requirement for the Government to table the 1995 Update Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, to report to the Assembly on current access and equity policies for ACT government services, and to report to the Assembly on measures in place to provide cross-cultural awareness training to employees in the ACT government services, including nurses, teachers, police and other public contact staff. This report addresses the last two points - that is, the current policies and the measures in place to provide cross-cultural awareness training to employees in ACT government services.

Mr Speaker, in June 1995, the Council of Ministers of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs agreed that increased efforts in access and equity are required by Australian governments, and that a commitment to access and equity in service delivery should be sought at the highest levels of government through the Council of Australian Governments, COAG. The Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, comprising the Commonwealth Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and his ministerial counterparts in the States and Territories, has endorsed a charter of public service for a culturally diverse society aimed at ensuring government services meet the particular needs of users and achieve intended outcomes for them. Mr Speaker, in November last year this Government agreed to the integration of the charter's principles into relevant strategic planning, policy and corporate reporting processes.

The charter has seven principles. The first one is access. Government services are available to everyone who is entitled to them. They are provided without unlawful discrimination, especially on the grounds of race, sex or religious or political views. Secondly, equity - fair and just treatment is assured to eligible customers. Thirdly, communication - eligible customers know of the services to which they have an entitlement, and how they can get that entitlement. Service providers are to consult regularly with their customers about the adequacy, the design and the standard of government services. Fourthly, responsiveness - which ensures that government services are aware of the needs and requirements of all customers, and respond to those needs and requirements. Fifthly, effectiveness - that government service providers focus on meeting the needs of all customers. Sixthly, efficiency - providing outcomes for customers from available public resources. Lastly, accountability - that government service providers have a reporting mechanism in place to say how they delivered outcomes for their customers.

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