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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 7 Hansard (22 September) . . Page.. 2033 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

But was it not good that Mr Moore and I continued to put pressure on the Federal Government and have got Michael Wooldridge to agree that in the December round of funding - the December round is for programs funded jointly by the government and community sectors - the ACT will be allocated our fair share of funding right across all programs? In addition to the allocations that have been made already, a new allocation will be made in December. Then there is the extra $10m that the Prime Minister has announced during this election period.

The ACT will not miss out, contrary to what those opposite have said. I would have thought that, rather than the aggressive approach we have seen from those opposite, they would be saying that it is good news for Canberra that Dr Wooldridge has given us the undertaking that if the Coalition are re-elected we will get the money that we need to run this facility. It would appear that those opposite believe that ADD Inc. and the Ted Noffs Foundation have said, "We will take anything. It is not all or nothing". I disagree with that. I think they made the right call. One of the worst things that could happen in this area is to end up with a facility that you simply do not have the money to run. That is what was going to happen if it had been addressed the way those opposite believe that ADD Inc. and the Ted Noffs Foundation should have addressed it.

Mr Stanhope: They have now been promised what they applied for?

MS CARNELL: No, not at all. That is where you - - -

Mr Stanhope: I am trying to understand.

MS CARNELL: And I am very happy to help. In the December round - there is the December round of funding plus an extra $10m - the ACT will be able to access the money we would have got in the previous funding rounds both in the treatment area and in the community services area, plus the money we would get on a pro rata basis out of the December funding round, which would normally be for different projects. Instead of having a number of small projects or having one large underfunded project, we will be able to move all of our funding plus our percentage of the $10m of extra money into the one program that we believe will plug a major hole in services. It shows that the Ted Noffs Foundation did make the right decision to hold out for a better deal down the track, although not far down the track - - -

Mr Stanhope: Have we got this promise in writing?

MS CARNELL: There is no doubt that this is an absolute undertaking. I believe this is the best outcome for the people of the ACT. In other words, instead of getting a number of small projects that may not address our major service gap, we will be able to put all of our allocation into one project. Even then, it may require some ACT government funding as well. Certainly we will have to provide the facility. I would think that all members of this Assembly would be very pleased with the outcome. I know I am. I certainly hope that if by any horrible chance the Coalition is not re-elected those opposite will put the same level of pressure on a Labor Health Minister to make the money available to the ACT. That level of pressure will have to be quite high, because I know Mr Moore has regularly put pressure on the Federal Government in this area, as I have.

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