Education, Community Services and Recreation-Standing Committee-Report No 8-2001-02 draft budget initiatives and draft capital works program for the Department of Education and Community Services (presented 29 March 2001)-Government response.

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, the Standing Committee on Education, Community Services and Recreation Report No 8-2001-02 draft budget initiatives and capital works program for the Department of Education and Community Services was tabled on 29 March 2001.

There are seven recommendations-three dealing with budget initiatives and four dealing with the draft capital works program. The Government agrees with six recommendations, and does not agree with one recommendation.

Recommendation 1, that Government provide the committee with details of the implementation status of all recommendations accepted by Government relating to education and community services made by the Committee and the Standing Committee on Social Policy of the Third Assembly, is agreed.

The Government agrees with recommendation 2 regarding the development of a social plan to assist in determining funding priorities. The Government's response however, points out that it has taken a multifaceted approach to social planning rather than attempt to create a single social plan.

Mr Speaker, from the outset the Government outlined its vision for Canberra in the Government Plan 1998-2001 which set the parameters for enhancing the well being of the Canberra community.

Initiatives such as the Poverty Project gave the Government a greater insight into the needs of the disadvantaged in the community. The Digital Divide Taskforce has recently examined options for addressing the gulf between the information rich and poor.

Consultations with the community in the development of strategies such as the Women's Action Plan 2000-2001, the Forward Plan for Older People in the ACT 2000-2003, and the Family Support Plan further helped the Government in its social planning. Multicultural and youth strategies are currently being finalised. The