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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1485 ..

The Government agrees that details of the membership of relevant ministerial councils and other consultative bodies will be included in future annual reports until such time as this information is appropriately provided by the ACT Government Homepage via the Internet.

Members should also note that when appointments are made to statutory bodies the membership of those bodies is provided to the appropriate Standing Committees.

The Government agrees that a quality/effectiveness measure should be included for services provided to schools by the Child Health and Development Service (CHADS). A suitable measure will be included in the 2000-2001 purchase agreement.

In relation to future annual reports, notes will be included o n how the difference between Government Payments for Outputs (GPO) and total cost is funded within each output class.

Mr Speaker more detail will also be provided on service purchasing arrangements and information on the funding provided for community service obligations. This additional information will include their purpose, the amount, to whom it was provided and the number of people assisted.

Where this is possible future annual reports will also include enhanced reporting on regulatory activities. When this is not possible the information will be provided to Assembly Committees.

Mr Speaker, the Committee has recommended that the Government consider the need for additional resources for early intervention services by CHADS in the 2000-2001 budget.

CHADS early intervention units have 192 places available. The target throughput each year is 250 students. The higher than normal results represent the high quality work done by the staff in working with the children and preparing them for full inclusion in mainstream settings at the earliest opportunity. The Government is pleased with current achievements in this area and does not see it as an area in critical need of extra funding.

However, the Government will consider the need for additional early intervention resources in the 2000-2001 budget.

Mr Speaker, the Government will also consider the need for of additional resources for child protection in the 2000-1 budget.

Child protection is a difficult and demanding area. Government acknowledges that, in a literal sense, there can never be enough resources applied to it. However, the total number of children notified as being at risk between 1997 and 1999 has remained about the same.

What the Government is doing Mr Speaker is targeting as a priority, the prevention of child abuse through:

� Family Group Conferencing, which will be introduced this month (May);

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