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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 2 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 459 ..

MR RUGENDYKE

becoming urgent, and this Government has to make its strategies clear. Federal Minister Amanda Vanstone has made it quite clear that after CHOGM in 2001 no guarantee has been given for community policing in the ACT.

The Attorney-General needs to gain control of the police force, and I feel that this will be best achieved by the appointment of our own ACT police commissioner. We have to be proactive in setting up the best possible police service for the community. The situation is not adequate at the moment. Last Saturday, for example, we had four police officers serving everywhere between Manuka and Mitchell. I do not believe that this level of policing is what the community wants or expects, and it is not achieving the Government's own target of improving community safety and increasing police visibility. The Commonwealth Grants Commission revealed last week that we are spending $25.2m below the standardised amount for law and order and emergency services. There is a discrepancy there that we have to address. The level of police presence in and liaison with schools is also a concern for me. The removal of the Juvenile Aid Bureau and police on bicycles has taken away crucial bridges to our youth.

That brings me to education, Mr Deputy Speaker. My five children have all gone through, or are going through, the government school system, as are my foster children. I have great faith in our schools and the teachers who are running them. We have the best school system, and I do not want to see it compromised. The Government has a goal of providing a computer for every full-time teacher by the end of this year and one computer for every student by 2001. These are the types of initiatives which make our government schools so good. It appears that school closures are on the Government's agenda; but I will not accept the closure of schools without first finding a use for the building. The old Charnwood High School, where the building was left dormant for years, is a case in point.

The role of schools and teachers in our community is growing by the day. We are in an unfortunate position where teenage children at risk are slipping through the cracks and it is left up to the schools to fill the void. We do have services for very young children; but the kids aged about 14 and up who need help are missing out. There has to be more attention paid to assistance for disabled students. It is clear that the integration of disabled students in schools is on the increase and the resources must be in place to make this work. Another area in education which is of major importance is maintaining CIT standards. Stimulating apprenticeships and jobs goes hand in hand with courses at CIT. This is another area I am keeping a close check on.

The other areas I would like to see the Government pay closer attention to are community services. One issue that has impacted on services such as refuges is the SACS award. I have spoken in the Assembly before about this and the pressure these groups are under to provide vital services. Also, the prospect of the GST is likely to put additional financial strains on these services and it is affecting the quality of services being delivered.

Small business is entitled to a level playing field with the big players. One of the checks my constituents are asking for is ensuring that suburban shops and shopping centres retain their role in the community. Small business is concerned that the Government is

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