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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Thursday, 5 August 2004) . . Page.. 3493 ..

I am not satisfied that the government’s response addresses that recommendation at all. Basically, the government is saying, “We are doing it. We will look at that and get better links.” We want to see a specific dedicated position. That is what this recommendation is about. When I first saw that recommendation I was very supportive of it because I know that this has been an issue over the years. Recommendation 13 states:

The Committee recommends that the Government consult with key stakeholders regarding the adequacy of existing performance measures for care and protection services ...

The government did not agree to that recommendation in its original response, which is a damning indictment. I am glad that it has done so now. Yesterday I spoke to the media about my concerns and I have spoken also to Ms Gallagher. When we look at the audit and at what has happened, how can we have confidence in this government? I do not blame the minister, but she really needs to explain to me and to the community how she has confidence in this response when something as basic as the critical need for performance measures has been highlighted in other reports.

The government did not agree to, and insultingly dismissed, this recommendation in its original response, a matter about which I am concerned. In recommendation 14 the committee refers to foster and kinship carers. In the government’s response it notes only the access to respite care by foster carers. The government states that it supports access to respite care by foster and kinship carers and that it will continue to work with funded foster care agencies, which is the bottom line. (Extension of time granted.)

People will not become foster carers if the government cannot guarantee them access to respite care. It is not good enough that we are being fobbed off with more reviews in relation to this whole question of support for foster carers, improving standards and training, and so on, which is what is happening. The second paragraph of recommendation 14 states:

ii. adopt a system of payments as outlined in Chapter 6 of this Report by December 2003 ...

Basically, the government is stating that it will review the current child protection manual as a contingency payment to carers. We do not need to be fobbed off with another review. For years we have established that foster carers find the work difficult and distressing. They cannot deal with really basic needs, let alone more quality of life contingency payments. I think that important recommendation should have received a more positive response. Recommendation 16 states:

The Committee recommends that the Government:

i. develop, with key stakeholders, a template for Annual Review Reports by March 2004 …

That was noted in the government’s original response and it has now agreed to that recommendation. The previous response was a template from the 1986 act. I think we are being fobbed off. On the one hand the government is saying that it agrees with that recommendation but, on the other hand, it is saying that that is part of the review process.

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