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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1585 ..

More than $1 million has been allocated to market Canberra interstate and overseas as a business, investment and tourism destination. Campaigns will target Asia and Africa, as well as traditional markets like the United States.

Canberra's major festivals and tourism activities will also be highlighted in an effort to increase their value to local operators and the community. The magnificent Australian Science Festival, which contributes almost $5 million to our local economy each year, will receive funding in this budget for the 2001 festival, and beyond.

Other festivals will also continue to enjoy tangible support from the government: $200,000 will be provided to enable Floriade's fees to be reduced in line with the decision taken by the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation; $250,000 extra will be provided in 2000-01 for the National Multicultural Festival; and $150,000 will be made available each year to support new and emerging young artists. I am also pleased to announce $100,000 over the next two years to support Volunteering ACT, for several initiatives during the International Year of Volunteering, which recognises the significance of volunteer work to our community.

Health

No government has done more to improve the health system in Canberra than this one. A strategy is in place-something that Labor could never deliver. This budget continues the provision of high-quality health care services for the people of Canberra. In the next four years, $62.8 million is being made available for growth in needs. This is the largest injection of funding into our health care system ever, and it will enable the provision of additional services to ensure growth in demand can be met.

Some of this funding has already been committed. The government is particularly pleased to direct $100,000 of the growth funds to improve the access to health services for indigenous people. An additional 100 places will be funded in the methadone program, at a cost of $125,000 next year. We are allocating $80,000 to provide financial assistance to pensioners who need portable oxygen equipment. Individuals, previously housebound, will be given a chance to get out into the community again through this important service, and $200,000 will fund long-term accommodation support options for disabled people who also have mental health needs.

Today's budget features other initiatives in health which reflect this government's attention to innovations in health technology. We are providing $414,000 to fund the provision of genetics services to help individuals and families come to terms with and manage genetic conditions, and to help those affected to make informed decisions about their own health, lifestyle and reproductive options. The major goal of genetics services is to reduce the impact of genetic disorders and birth defects on affected individuals, at risk individuals and their family. In addition, understanding the risks of inherited conditions later in life is particularly important for those in high-risk groups. A sum of $190,000 will allow the Blood Transfusion Service to implement nucleic acid testing of blood products to guard against the spread of blood-borne disease.

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