Page 1893 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 May 2005
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While the new approach to community sector funding indexation, which will replace CPI indexation with an 80:20 wage-cost/CPI indexation method that more accurately reflects real costs, is a step in the right direction, it is unclear why this initiative has been delayed until the 2006-07 financial year. The delay will cause considerable hardship for community organisations that have been waiting three to four years for this change in formula and are currently treading water. It is also a shame that the government has missed an opportunity to strengthen the viability of the community sector by responding to the community sector viability task force deliberations and has failed to invest in the community sector’s infrastructure, including community facilities and information and communications technology.
The Greens are pleased to see funding rise for the arts and sport. In many ways the arts can be said to represent the soul of the city, and the sports certainly contribute to health and fitness. There is always the potential for them to fall to the bottom of a government’s list of priorities. Adequate facilities are vital in supporting the growth of arts and sports sectors. I am aware that these sectors are very excited to be receiving funding for facilities, but I am concerned about the method of consultation the ACT government is using to determine the timing and level of funding for these facilities. For example, $6.15 million has been allocated towards the Childers Street development and the planning for a performing arts centre in City West, but the 2003-04 feasibility report on the performing arts centre in City West has not yet been released. The ACT government will not make public its deed of agreement with the Australian National University, which places high levels of control over the use of this land for which the performing arts centre is planned. The demolition of buildings on Childers Street is to begin on 23 May 2005 but the full plans for this precinct have not yet been provided to arts organisations.
With regard to sports, $1.7 million has been allocated towards Phillip Oval for improved playing surfaces, amenities and spectator areas, yet the Woden Community Council requested only $1 million in its budget submission. I know that it is not complaining, but I hope that other initiatives, including a proposed review of sport and leisure facilities as well as arts and cultural facilities, have not missed out because of overspending on Phillip Oval.
The ACT government has only one program to target childhood obesity, the kids at play program, which consists of two vans driving around to afterschool centres and community events. I am not surprised that this has been a highly successful program, because there has been so much publicity about this issue and certainly work is needed in this area. However, we need to be aware that obesity is a lifestyle issue and that family nutrition and activities set the context for children’s health. We need to be wary of focusing health dollars on a narrowly-targeted objective when broader primary health care may be more cost effective.
The ACT government appears to be allocating money to areas without releasing reports or acknowledging community consultation in the area of policing. The ACT government has allocated $2.2 million towards 20 new police officers. This funding is welcomed. In addition, we need a highly responsive police service, and the type and nature of policing services in the ACT need to be adapted to community needs. A report started in 2004
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