Page 2508 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 August 2007
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government is grateful that the commonwealth have approached these negotiations with an open mind.
We acknowledge the commonwealth’s $1.8 billion investment nationally but it is unclear where exactly the funding will go. We are hopeful that some of that investment will come to the ACT, as the need is here. Any additional funding will alleviate pressure on us, the territory government, to try to continue to find the money that we have been finding over recent years to fill the gap.
In conclusion, this budget represents another watershed in disability funding in the history of self-government. Since coming to power, the Stanhope government has demonstrated again and again our commitment to supporting those members of our community with a disability, and assisting the families and friends that support them. This budget includes the largest single investment of funding for disability services—$15 million—something of which this government is very proud.
I now move to multicultural affairs. Even though I observe that there is a full moon outside, there is no eclipse of the moon, so I am absolutely certain that no member opposite will mistake this part of the budget—although I thought Mr Smyth came pretty close in talking about indigenous affairs when the Chief Minister has carriage of that in his portfolio. Of the seven members of the opposition, three of them have got it wrong so far. I applaud the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the shadow Treasurer; so far they are on track. I do hope that, by the end of the night, their record is intact. (Second speaking period taken.)
Contained within the Disability, Housing and Community Services budget is the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Because it is contained there and not within the Chief Minister’s portfolio, I would like to make some remarks about it.
One of the Stanhope government’s key priorities for the 2007-08 period is to deliver the highest possible level of service to the community by continuing to strengthen the integration of disability, housing, children, youth, family, therapy, multicultural and community services. In particular, I take this opportunity to advise members of the recent achievements in our city’s multicultural community. There is a lot that I would like to share but I do not have enough time tonight so I will only mention a few points.
Through policy direction and program implementation, the Stanhope Labor government has demonstrated its commitment to the enhancement of this vital community. Over the past 2½ years, since I was appointed first as minister with responsibility for multicultural affairs and later as Minister for Multicultural Affairs, I have had the honour of watching this vibrant community grow and flourish. We have a lot to be proud of. This includes our continually evolving and hugely popular annual National Multicultural Festival, the establishment of the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, the 2006-09 ACT multicultural strategy, the ACT Muslim Advisory Council, our involvement in assisting refugees, and funding of the multicultural sector through the community grants program.
Every year, the National Multicultural Festival keeps getting better. This great achievement is testimony to the fact that each year the festival changes, becoming fresher, better and more exciting, with more things to do and see, and involving more
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