Page 737 - Week 02 - Thursday, 12 February 2009
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This motion should not be supported. I commend the amendment to the house. I look forward to the further debate.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that Mr Seselja’s amendment to Mr Stanhope’s motion be agreed to. I call Ms Hunter.
Mr Stanhope: Which bit don’t you support?
Mr Seselja: I’ve made my arguments.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Stanhope and Mr Seselja, Ms Hunter has the floor.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (11.27): I find the original motion put forward this morning quite interesting in that it details some aspects of the stimulus package that has been put forward by the federal government when it is a package that has not yet been passed. We do not really know what is going to come out or what the detail is and what changes may occur. It is quite a congratulatory sort of motion. I guess there is some politicking going on and I find that a bit unnecessary. It would be okay if the motion just referred to some of the detail of what has been announced and, as I say, I find it a little interesting the way that this particular motion has been worded.
In the last few days I have made statements in this chamber on some of the details of the package. I have said that the Australian Council of Social Service and some of the large church charity providers and large community sector groups have welcomed some parts of this package. Mr Stanhope referred to that earlier. Ceiling insulation can obviously reduce energy costs and would be a wonderful thing for people on low incomes, although I know that my colleague Mr Rattenbury, when he speaks a little later, will say that this measure does not go as far as it could. Certainly, in the first instance, ceiling insulation is something that would be welcomed in many low-income households.
We have also spoken about the boost in funding for school upgrades and how that is a welcome measure. I have spoken about the importance of looking at some of our rundown schools and the importance of looking at ways to ventilate and cool. In the first couple of weeks of the school year it has been incredibly hot in some of those schools. Of course, we do welcome that increase in money which will go to improving the situation of many of our schools across the ACT.
At the federal level, our Green senators on the hill have said that they will not block this package, that they are working hard to enhance it, but there is a strong view that there is not enough money being directed by this package to, for instance, the community sector that is delivering so many important services. At this time of economic downturn we know that the impact is going to be higher unemployment and that more households, families and individuals will need the services of those community agencies. There is very much a feeling that it needs to be acknowledged that they are already under the gun. We know from many reports over the years, the annual reports that come from the Australian Council of Social Service, that demand
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