Page 1097 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 May 2006

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which I have seen work really well, whereby a group of parents determines what kind of childcare the parents want and then works with the government, the funding bodies and its staff to get the kind of childcare that the parents want.

This is not an issue that is going to be resolved right here and now. That is why our motion says, “Go out and find out, acknowledge that there is a range of models, look at the level of demand, look at the number of places here at the moment and then set up that flexibility that means that we do not become like some other states where the only childcare that is increasingly being offered is the corporate model, whereby childcare is for profit more than it is for the good of the children.” We have some great childcare providers here, including Teddy Bears. If we want them to stick around, we have to help them.

The ACT government has that power. Sorry, I just will not accept that it is all a matter for the federal government. The federal government has a role, sure, and I wish that it would get off its butt and acknowledge it, but so has the ACT government. I am disappointed that this amendment is, in a sense, a cop-out.

Question put:

That Ms Gallagher’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 8

Noes 7

Mr Barr

Mr Gentleman

Mrs Burke

Mr Seselja

Mr Berry

Ms MacDonald

Mrs Dunne

Mr Smyth

Mr Corbell

Ms Porter

Dr Foskey

Mr Stefaniak

Ms Gallagher

Mr Stanhope

Mr Pratt

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Budget—functional and structural review

MR SMYTH (Brindabella—Leader of the Opposition) (11.45): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes that:

(a) the government has commissioned a functional and strategic review of Government structures and programs, referred to as the Functional Review of the ACT Budget in its terms of reference; and

(b) the report of the Functional Review has been presented to the Government; and

(2) calls on the Government to table the report of the Functional Review by the close of business today.

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