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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 949 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

He committed his department to talking with the council and with the community on how those services could be developed in the Lanyon Valley. Well, we have not seen anything yet. You said, I believe, Minister, that we would see Sandra Renew and Michael White. We have seen neither of them yet. I was not going to raise that in this forum; but I am so angry about this particular thing that I have raised it, and I would be grateful if you could take that on board.

I also point to the fact that at that same meeting the Minister for Urban Services, in his capacity as the Minister for planning, was also asked about the provision of a block of land. Perhaps we could do something like that. He also gave that same forum an undertaking that something might be possible. Since he is not here, I will not try to interpret his words; but I suggest to you that there was something in the offing. We have heard nothing since. In my naivety, Mr Speaker, I believed that this Government had a commitment to youth services. I must say that that naivety has been shown to be true. My views on the issue were shattered when I saw that the Woden and Civic youth centres would have their three-year guarantee slashed to 12 months. I cannot tell you how devastated I was when I saw that. I think it is absolutely abominable, and I call upon the Government to restore that funding and that funding guarantee forthwith.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (8.53): What a joke, Mr Speaker! I do not blame Mr Hargreaves, because he has been here for only a short time; but I have to say that Mr Corbell is wet behind the ears. He was absolutely used by a very capable lobby group, I have to say.

Mr Corbell: And Mr Rugendyke as well.

MS CARNELL: Mr Rugendyke is new too. You are not. You have no excuse whatsoever.

Mr Hargreaves: So we are duped, are we? Fifteen years of work in the youth sector dupes us, does it, Chief Minister?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hargreaves, you have already spoken. Please allow the Chief Minister the same privilege.

MS CARNELL: Mr Corbell, apart from being extraordinarily arrogant, and many other things, Mr Speaker, really should have checked with the Minister on what is actually happening here. Just one question to the Minister and he would have given the same information that he has given here today. I am sure that in the future Mr Rugendyke will do exactly that, rather than necessarily believe what a lobby group tells him.

Mr Hargreaves: What lobby group are we talking about, Chief Minister?

MS CARNELL: The people who are lobbying for three-year funding.

Mr Hargreaves: Name them.

MS CARNELL: I assume it is Ms Lowa and Ms Sattler.

Mr Hargreaves: I have not spoken to either of them, Chief Minister.

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