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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 3 Hansard (8 March) . . Page.. 829 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

DNA technology is improving almost by the day and has proved to be a very useful tool in crime investigations and convictions. The bill provides $0.152 million for one-off assistance to the AFP for the introduction and increased use of DNA technology in crime investigations. This will cover the cost of test kits and video recording for the processing of DNA.

The bill provides an additional $0.074 million to support additional remuneration for ACT Law Reform Commission members in the current financial year, following the determination by the Remuneration Tribunal. Obviously this was unforeseen at the time of the budget and needs to be provided in this appropriation bill.

The supplementary appropriation bill also provides $0.2 million for the Department of Justice and Community Safety to provide online public access to ACT legislation. Once again, this is about providing easy and cost-effective access to information for the community.

The bill provides $343,000 in GPO for the Department of Education and Community Services to cover the increased service purchasing costs associated with the SACS award, for the supported accommodation assistance program. This funding is to maintain the services at the current level and will be supplemented by a further $419,000 from the Commonwealth.

The bill provides $6 million in capital injection for InTACT to meet the increased costs of operations that would otherwise be passed on to agencies. These costs mainly relate to the financing of repayable advances issued to InTACT to undertake the modernisation program and are due to the high market costs of IT contractors.

For the Department of Urban Services, the bill provides $3.850 million in total to undertake a range of works around the city. Of this amount, $1 million will be allocated to major crime prevention through improved streetlighting along major roads and in various suburbs. This program will involve consultation with relevant stakeholders and will address community concerns about safety.

Mr Speaker, $2.85 million will be used for improved line marking, road resealing, repair work on footpaths and cyclepaths, weed spraying and painting of guardrails, et cetera. This work is necessary to improve the general look of the city and to address a backlog of maintenance to date.

Finally, the government is seeking Assembly support for $0.410 million in GPO for the Department of Health, Housing and Community Care to cover the pay increase for nurses at the Calvary Hospital during the current financial year. Members will be aware that the government has offered an 11.7 per cent pay increase under the EBA, along with a range of incentives to strengthen the ACT's nursing force. This is aimed to attract and retain nurses, to address the shortage in nursing numbers. The total cost of the package is estimated at $2.9 million for the remainder of the current financial year. However, only the nurses at the Calvary Hospital have accepted the government offer, and the government considers it appropriate to seek at this stage only the $410,000, which represents the cost associated with that part of the work force.

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