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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 2866 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

In Mr Smyth's portfolio, the Department of Urban Services is continuing to negotiate with the Commonwealth to develop a bilateral agreement. The current Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement expires on 30 June 1999, and we envisage that a new agreement will be finalised by then. To date, specific funding for indigenous housing has been focused by the Commonwealth on rural areas. Negotiations are continuing to focus attention on ACT indigenous housing issues.

In Mr Stefaniak's area, Youth Justice Services has implemented strategies to address the needs of indigenous clientele. They include the employment of an identified indigenous caseworker with the community unit, with caseworkers working to maintain indigenous clients in the community; the employment of indigenous staff at Quamby; and the development of a range of indigenous-specific programs designed to meet client needs at Quamby.

In education, the Department of Education and Community Services has implemented a three-year ACT-Commonwealth indigenous education agreement. The agreement is currently entering into its third triennium. The agreement includes eight key areas, these being literacy, numeracy, attendance at school, the employment of indigenous people, teaching indigenous studies at ACT schools, parent participation in decision-making, preschool education and professional development for indigenous people. The department has an Indigenous Education Aboriginal Students Unit and an Indigenous Education Consultative Body.

In the Department of Health and Community Care, a draft strategic plan has been developed and it is being considered by the Indigenous Health Forum. Community consultation will be taken early next year, and the completion of the strategic plan is scheduled for March 1999.

Mr Speaker, I could go on and on. We could talk about the Aboriginal Health Centre. But generally I think that gives an overview of the approach that the ACT Government is taking to ensure that such important areas as education, community services, housing, support services, employment services and so on are put in place to help indigenous youth in the ACT.

MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I thank the Chief Minister. The Opposition has got an answer to a question - a day late perhaps, but we have got it.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Wood, do you have a supplementary question or do you want to make a speech?

MR WOOD: Yes, indeed. I would do both if I could.

MR SPEAKER: Get on with it.

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, the Chief Minister mentioned the 1996-97 implementation report, which came down about a year ago. Is there to be an implementation report in the next week or so for 1997-98?

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