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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Wednesday, 10 March 2004) . . Page.. 1006 ..

keep the centre open for a further three months, but we need to make sure that the systems are in place and that the arrangements are well communicated and well understood. At the end of the program, maybe on 30 June, we could hold some sort of celebration, a cathartic event, at the recovery centre to say goodbye. People can come and say their thanks to all the wonderful staff for the wonderful work they do. It would bring them together in a group one more time, in a public way. They can choose whether they want to come, as some did on 18 January this year. I know that the people I have spoken to would be absolutely delighted to give their personal thanks one more time to the people that have not just assisted them but become their friends on a very grim journey, a journey back to normality, and to show that they are very grateful to the staff of the recovery centre.

I commend the motion to the Assembly. I hope the government agrees. It is important that we move forward together on this aspect of the recovery and it is appropriate that these services are provided in this way. If the community are saying, “We didn’t know” or “We haven’t had enough warning” or “We’re not sure of what will happen” we should not add to their pain this time. The transition must happen and must be as painless as possible.

MRS BURKE (5.04): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his position regarding the rights and wellbeing of the community in relation to their ongoing recovery after the 2003 bushfires. I would like to start with a media release put out by the Chief Minister on the bushfire recovery process, dated 28 April 2003. There are five very positive things listed as long-term priorities for recovery. A couple of those priorities are:

3. rebuilding secure and cheerful neighbourhoods for families, children and other residents in the fire-affected areas—to recognise that the new local communities will include existing residents and new residents;

4. retaining and reinforcing the strong community spirit that Canberra has exhibited so visibly during and after the fires—people and community groups working side by side, and capturing the pride in the achievements of the recovery;

I believe it makes perfect sense that we look at continuing operations for a further few months at the centre as it exists now. The government has circulated some good information to the community on services available which seems to back up the notion that we should not be too hasty in our actions to close down the centre prematurely. We have to thank the State Emergency Recovery Unit, Operations Division, of the Victorian government for a lot of this information. I note that this information has been reproduced by the ACT government.

The following services are currently available at the centre: assistance with alternative accommodation; assistance with repairs to the home and essential contents; personal support, advice and information; community redevelopment; counselling and psychiatric support services; health monitoring; and assistance to farmers and small business. I believe that some have moved on, having been through quite a few of these areas; however, many see the centre as a means of stability for their lives. It is a focal point for many; a place that they can relate to.

We need to be very careful too about moving people through a process, which may be for the minority. The Chief Minister’s consideration to resource this centre could have

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