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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 06 Hansard (Thursday, 24 June 2004) . . Page.. 2817 ..

(2) Did a study of Elective Surgery since January 2000 find that Labor is treating an average of 644 patients a month as compared with the 704 patients per month treated under the Canberra Liberals;

(3) Can the Minister explain how there is an increased throughput that he is delivering on when the figures show that an average of 60 patients a month fewer than under the former Liberal Government are being treated.

Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is:

(1) Yes

(2) Yes

(3) The average of 60 patients a month fewer treated than the former Liberal Government is based on a period of time (October 2000 to September 2003) when the former Liberal Government had the benefits of additional Critical and Urgent Treatment (CUTS) funding from the Commonwealth. The former Liberal Government made no provision for recurrent funding when the CUTs funding ceased in 2001. This Government has replaced this funding over the past two financial years and the increased throughput has been seen over the last 12 months with an average of 741 patients having their surgery performed each month.

Employment incentive schemes
(Question No 1537)

Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, upon notice, on 13 May 2004:

(1) Are there any incentive schemes offered by the Government to businesses to employ (a) disabled residents and (b) residents aged over 50 years who are wanting to re-enter the workforce;

(2) If so, what incentives are offered; if not, why not and would you consider implementing such schemes.

Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) Yes. I am advised that the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training provides incentives for employers of people with a disability and workers aged 45 years and older participating in the new apprenticeships scheme. The ACT Government does not duplicate this scheme, but supports and promotes it.

The ACT Government also supports people with disabilities and those over fifty years seeking to return to the workforce by funding nationally recognised training that mirrors training offered to employed people. Indirectly, this assists employers, as it provides a pool of people with current job-ready skills.

(2) The Commonwealth, through the New Apprenticeship Centre, funds new apprentices with disabilities (including older participants) where eligible participants are undertaking Certificate II to Certificate IV qualifications. Funding is dependent on the outcome of an occupational assessment. The incentives offered include:

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