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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Thursday, 11 March 2004) . . Page.. 1171 ..

Oxfam Community Aid Abroad channels its funds directly to community organisations which then work directly with the communities most at need. They then continue to work closely with these organisations so that accountability is assured and we can actually then see the results of the programs that are being funded by the money raised by people participating in the Walk Against Want.

Twenty dollars raised through the Walk Against Want can pay for seeds to plant fields of mung beans for four East Timorese families; $100 raised can pay for a one-day workshop with East Timorese men and women to address gender based violence; $10 raised will actually provide basic literacy and numeracy training for one person in the remote Afar region of Ethiopia; $10 will establish one private tree reserve for one farmer contributing towards reforestation and environmental rehabilitation in the Oromiyan region of Ethiopia. This region has experienced deforestation, over-grazing, soil erosion and frequent droughts. Seventy dollars raised will provide for one traditional birth attendant and the basic health training and birthing equipment needed to supervise safe deliveries in the remote Afar region of Ethiopia; $40 raised can pay for the monthly allowance of a South African HIV peer educator who uses song and theatre to help educate communities, especially young people, about preventing and dealing with HIV/AIDS. South Africa currently has the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world. As little as $150 raised can pay for a primary school teacher in Laos to attend school training for 12 months. Such training helps teachers to improve their skills and increase student retention rates. It enhances the work satisfaction of teachers.

So there are many good things that Oxfam is doing, including providing soccer balls for community sports groups in the Solomon Islands so that young man can be involved in soccer and participate in tournaments rather than join militant gangs. Money also helps the indigenous community here in Australia so that youth at risk can participate in cultural reclamation camps and help them restore self worth and pride in their identity.

There is a lot being done by Oxfam Community Aid Abroad and I urge all members, and all members of the community, to go out and support the Walk Against Want, join in the 38th annual Walk Against Want and then see the money go to some really good causes in helping people around the world.

Carlaminda Court, Florey

MR CORNWELL (10.42): It is particularly appropriate that the Chief Minister is here this evening in his capacity as minister for the ageing because I want to refer to something which my colleague Mr Stefaniak mentioned a couple of nights ago, that is, the ongoing problems for people living in Carlaminda Court in Worrell Place in Florey and the difficulties they are having with some of their neighbours. Despite the very helpful efforts of the police, intimidation continues by way of abuse and firework throwing, which I understood to be illegal at this time. These events appear to be regarded by ACT Housing as acceptable behaviour by its tenants.

Chief Minister, I wrote to your colleague Mr Wood, as Minister for Housing, on 26 February about this and I made mention that earlier in that week you had made a major statement about elder abuse, in which you mentioned that you had established the Office

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