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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (20 August) . . Page.. 2423 ..

MS GALLAGHER (continuing):

the subsequent tabling of dissenting reports. This committee operated with the full commitment of every member.

The final report demonstrates the evidence given to the committee and the results of post-evidence discussions. Being a government member on the committee, naturally there are recommendations in the report with which I do not agree, but I am pleased that the report being tabled is unanimous.

My last comments relate to the only thing that the estimates report does not do very well. That is that it does not acknowledge the uncontroversial but important new initiatives being introduced by the budget. Pretty much the positives of the budget go largely ignored in the report. I understand that the main purpose of an estimates report is to provide comments, suggestions and recommendations prior to debate on the budget, and that this means the report is bound to focus on productivity savings, new revenue initiatives and controversial initiatives.

However, it is worth mentioning here that there are significant initiatives provided for in this first budget of the Labor government-and I will not take up the time of the Assembly by listing them all. In support of these comments, I will use examples of a few of these initiatives. One is the establishment of a consumer law centre to provide services to people who cannot afford legal advice. Another is emergency child-care places for occasional care-a total of 20,600 hours for families in need. There are several new initiatives targeted towards the ACT indigenous community in youth, alcohol and drug projects, family violence prevention programs and indigenous housing options.

I guess that, at the end of the day, every member in this place understands that there is never enough money to go around, either into departments or to fund services provided by the community sector. One thing we can do is ensure that the government prioritises expenditure into areas where the need is greatest. This budget goes some way to address some of the significant disadvantage experienced by people in our community. You will not find that statement in the estimates report, but I think it is one worth making here.

Debate (on motion by Mr Quinlan ) adjourned to the next sitting.

Civil Law (Wrongs) Bill 2002

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Affairs and Minister for Women) (11.54): Mr Speaker, I ask for leave to present the Civil Law (Wrongs) Bill 2002.

Leave not granted.

MR STANHOPE: I suppose we could just wail against the Liberals for refusing to support reform of insurance law. We could do that or we could suspend standing orders. We could waste everybody's time. I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from presenting the Civil Law (Wrongs) Bill 2002.

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