Page 2316 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 28 June 2005
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duty, rather than for financial gain. However, communities should not impose on lawyers to underwrite the delivery of legal aid. No other professional group is required to finance a Government social policy objective out of their own pocket.
That has been an ongoing situation for the Legal Aid Office. Indeed, I think that lots of lawyers take on the work as an obligation. We looked at that matter and came up with the recommendation that the government and the ACT Legal Aid Commission explore further measures to encourage more private practitioners to become involved in the provision of legal aid.
The Community Advocate put in her last appearance, as reported, and indicated that there had been significant changes and that, whilst there were problems with this annual report, she expected that the next annual report would show the benefit of changes. The committee expressed its thanks and wished her well for the future. That was her last formal function before that committee.
In terms of the AFP, we looked at things such a short and long-term trends in crime data; how to improve policing performances vis-a-vis the contractual arrangements with the commonwealth, such as by numbers, by performance agreement or by a combination of both; a different approach to targeting crime, the “pile-on” strategy and volume crime targeting such as Operation Halite, and the usefulness of close contact with recidivists and families, housing estates and schools; and police numbers in the ACT. From my point of view, they are certainly far too low. We have heard a lot about that in this place. Mr Speaker, I commend the report to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Estimates 2005-2006—Select Committee
Report—government response
MR QUINLAN (Molonglo—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Business, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (10.41): For the information of members, I present the following paper:
Estimates 2005-2006—Select Committee—Report—Appropriation Bill 2005-2006—Government response, dated June 2005.
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Leave granted.
MR QUINLAN: The government is proud of the 2005-06 budget. It has been set in an economic and financial climate that continues to be tighter than that experienced by our predecessors. It continues to deliver on this government’s commitment while being both financially responsible and responsive to the needs of the community. This budget continues the substantial progress of the past four years, provides new programs and new funding for targeted services and continues to invest in our infrastructure.
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