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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 3 Hansard (8 March) . . Page.. 828 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

during the current year. This funding also contributes towards a junior development program in the ACT. Canberra has provided some very talented players to the AFL, and this support will further develop the potential for an ACT side in the competition.

There is an additional $0.1 million for the Rally of Canberra. The level of sponsorships for the Rally of Canberra has been low this year. This event has significant economic benefits for Canberra, and $0.1 million is to be provided so that the rally can continue in the same format as in previous years.

The supplementary appropriation also provides for $856,000 to cover the costs of the inquiry into disability services. As members are aware, this inquiry was set up under the Inquiries Act 1991. The cost is due to a decision made by this Assembly.

Mr Speaker, there is a growing digital divide between the information rich and the information poor. Apart from low income, other factors affecting digital divide are gender and age, disability, different language and cultural backgrounds, and of course education. The supplementary appropriation contains $300,000 to start to address a number of issues in relation to the digital divide.

The government has also proposed a budget initiative for 2001-02 to address this divide. This initiative is in response to the report of the poverty task force and has been referred to the portfolio committees for consultation. The initiative is about providing access to services and information to all members of the community.

For the Department of Justice and Community Safety, $2.201 million has been provided in government payment for outputs, $0.152 million for expenses on behalf of the territory and $0.667 million in capital injection. This includes $1.375 million in GPOs for Corrective Services to cover the rising cost of ACT prisoners held in New South Wales jails (about $774,000), an additional appropriation for ACT remandees to be held in temporary remand in New South Wales ($0.224 million) and the increased Comcare premiums for the Belconnen Remand Centre ($0.407 million).

In addition, $0.449 million is required for Youth Justice Services for payment to New South Wales. This relates to the juvenile offenders held in New South Wales institutions. The reciprocal arrangements with New South Wales which would have seen these payments offset did not eventuate, and this amount represents the payments for the period 1998-99 to 2000-01.

Mr Speaker, with improvements in technology, it is important that our emergency response teams and police are equipped with the latest technology. The bill provides an additional $103,000 in GPO for personal safety equipment and packs for emergency service volunteers and new uniforms for the ambulance service. In addition, $0.2 million in capital injection will purchase thermal imagery cameras and an upgrade of fire fighting rescue equipment.

The bill also provides $0.467 million in capital injection for ACT policing to replace the special purpose vehicle fleet, including a mobile command post with special communication, a special purpose diving module and suburban policing support vehicles. Once again, this will bring the equipment for those response teams up to date.

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