Page 640 - Week 03 - Thursday, 15 March 2007
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The 2006-07 budget required the homelessness services sector to make significant savings, in the order of $1 million dollars. This was an extremely difficult thing to ask of the sector, and I would like to formally acknowledge my appreciation of the services that were tasked with achieving these savings targets. I would especially like to thank St Vincent de Paul, Centacare, Toora Women Inc, Beryl Women’s Refuge, Anglicare and the Salvation Army for not only contributing to making these savings but also working with the government in such a collaborative way. These services have shown true leadership in the way they have worked with government to change their service models, their staffing structures and, indeed, the way they work together to form a service system. The commitment these agencies have to their client group has meant that they were able to make the required savings with no reduction in bed capacity.
There have been many successes to date in implementing the strategy, yet this progress report identifies that there is still work to be done. A priority issue for 2006-07 will be to finalise a supported accommodation service, an outreach service and a boarding house network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
In tabling this progress report, I would like to acknowledge the work of the ACT Homelessness Committee and thank its members for their ongoing commitment. I would also like to acknowledge the commitment and contribution of housing minister John Hargreaves, who had the carriage of this strategy for most of this reporting period until I took over in April last year. I look forward to future reports and achievements as we address and respond to the causes and effects of homelessness as a community.
Paper
Mr Corbell presented the following paper:
Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act, pursuant to section 13—Canberra Institute of Technology—annual report 2006, dated 13 March 2007.
Leave of absence
Motion (by Mr Corbell) agreed to:
That leave of absence from 16 March 2007 to 30 April 2007 inclusive be given to all members.
Effect of taxation changes on budget
Discussion of matter of public importance
MR SPEAKER: I have received letters from Dr Foskey, Mr Gentleman, Ms MacDonald, Mr Mulcahy, Ms Porter, Mr Pratt and Mr Smyth proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, I have determined that the matter proposed by Mr Mulcahy be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
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