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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1038 ..

events, enhanced engagement between the ACT government and the community; $0.133 million to establish a community inclusion fund that was part of a concerted attack on the causes of poverty and exclusion; $0.318 million in concession payments for electricity, water and sewerage charges to meet an increase in the price of electricity after the introduction of full retail contestability on 1 July 2003 and for increases in other utility charges; $3.265 million to respond to the dramatic increase in community demand for intervention and support services in child protection; $0.19 million to provide for the design and preliminary works to be undertaken for the restoration and enhancement of the Cotter precinct; $0.375 million to provide for the design and preliminary works to be undertaken for the restoration and enhancement of the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve; and $0.28 million to commence the implementation of the draft water resources strategy, including providing rainwater tank and water efficiency shower head subsidy schemes and development of community awareness and education programs.

The government acknowledges the value of our staff and has included funding of $29.671 million with its appropriation for enterprise bargaining agreements. This includes funding for teachers, police, visiting medical officers, nurses and clerical staff. The appropriation also supports the government’s commitment to safe working environments. ACT WorkCover is provided with a quarter of a million dollars to investigate the cause of the Fairbairn hangar collapse. The findings will assist in the prevention of future workplace accidents. In addition, ACT WorkCover receives appropriation of $0.56 million to provide for the first payment under an agreed resolution process relating to a substantial contractual dispute. The Department of Justice and Community Safety receives appropriation of $0.35 million to provide for the Eastman inquiry to be re-activated following the decision of the High Court. In addition, the department receives $0.545 million to provide for base budget pressures in ACT courts, for, amongst other things, increases in remuneration of judges, the Master and magistrates over recent years.

The Chief Minister’s Department is provided with $0.29 million to conduct a review of the safety of children in care in the ACT to address deficiencies in the current policies, procedures and practices for supporting children and young people on orders in residential and foster care; $4.5 million to provide funding for capital improvements to the Lyneham Hockey Centre to bring the facility up to international standard in order to host the 2005 Women’s Championship Trophy and other tournaments. It is necessary that that commitment be made now to secure that tournament as we are competing with other cities who wish also to host a great international women’s sporting event. The sum of $0.2 million is provided in funding to assist ACT Squash with the purchase of the Woden squash courts, which would otherwise probably be lost to redevelopment. ACT Planning and Land Authority receives an appropriation of $0.8 million to purchase the lease over Phillip Oval from the ACT AFL. Much discussion has already been aired on that issue. The Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services is provided with $0.16 million to meet the full cost of the new taxi subsidy scheme introduced from 1 July 2003; $0.803 million to provide for increased costs of contracting relief disability support workers; and $0.525 million to provide funding for increased workers compensation premium payable by Disability ACT.

The Stanhope government is dedicated to reducing the risk of bushfires and to completing the ACT’s recovery from the January 2003 bushfire. This appropriation follows on from the funding previously provided by this government and by this

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