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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 10 Hansard (Wednesday, 25 August 2004) . . Page.. 4187 ..

turnaround program, which has had its first referrals. This service provides young people between the ages of 12 and 18 with very intensive support needs.

We have funded a number of programs that support young people and their families. This includes funding for the CYCLOPS program; the YWCA to assist in supporting families of adolescents who are experiencing family conflict or are dealing with alcohol or other drug use; RecLink; and the messengers program. All of these programs are directed at assisting young people at risk.

A couple of weeks ago I released the young peoples plan with the theme of “strengthening opportunities for all young people in the ACT”. This plan sets directions for the government and the community on how to make a real difference to the lives of Canberra’s young people and their families.

Members, that is just a snapshot of some of the achievements we have seen in areas that I have responsibility for. This is a government that has worked hard. We have a strong record and, based on those achievements, we are very well positioned to see a second term of the Stanhope government.

MS DUNDAS (5.42): Just briefly, I want to put on the record that I will be voting against this motion, as I am not really interested in putting a motion on the books of the Assembly that puts forward what is basically the Liberal’s campaign. However, I had thought of amending the motion to recognise the government for the work that they have done in picking up some Democrat policies and initiatives, especially in the areas of health, education, business, family services, water management, et cetera.

It is quite clear that this debate has settled into being a “government said”, “opposition said” contest, which I would have preferred to see outside the walls of this chamber, out in the election campaign—a debate to be had with the community, allowing the Assembly to have the precious time that we need to make some policy changes and put some clear direction on the books.

That being said, the Democrats do have concerns about the areas listed in the motion—not to the point that we think the government needs to be condemned but we do have ongoing concerns about the work that is being done in relation to health, education, business, tourism, community safety, aged care, housing, family services, sport and recreation, water management, and a whole array of other issues. We have a crime prevention budget that is continually underspent and at the same time we have a prosecution budget that is continually overspent. We need to find a better balance there and we need to recognise that the community is made safer, not by being tough in relation to law and order but in preventing crime in the first place.

We had a debate this morning about housing affordability and I spoke at length about the stamp duty scheme. I am glad that the government has been able to establish a taskforce on student accommodation but we still have not heard any answers about what we are going to do in relation to the problems that are going to be faced at the beginning of the new academic year. Open week for the universities is on this weekend and I have not seen a solution or a positive move in relation to that issue.

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