Page 1275 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2009

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ACTCOSS:

… little capacity to increase … delivery to people feeling the effects of the economic crisis.

This is what we are saying. It is out there. It is not talking down the economy; it is repeating what ACTCOSS is saying. Chief Minister, is ACTCOSS guilty of talking down the economy? How dare ACTCOSS tell the truth and talk down the economy!

The submission goes on:

Steps taken in the second appropriation … to assist community organisations to provide crisis support were welcome. However, organisations who received funding are reporting far higher demand than the funds can provide for. Additional funding needs to be allocated to organisations to assist them to meet the increasing demands on their services in the current economic climate.

That is what the government are responsible for, Madam Deputy Speaker. They are there to take action.

These people cannot wait until the budget in May, the estimates and the budget debate in June, and for the money to roll next year—if the government has solutions at all. There are people suffering now—real people, not technical people; not data or statistics, but real human beings—who are visiting the providers of social services in our community. The community sector is saying, “They are suffering; they are stressed.” And what we have is a government that simply wants to ignore this. What we have is a government that has no aim. What we have is a listless government, a clueless government and a Treasurer who does not believe that anyone is hurting. All we are asking for from this motion is for the government to outline their plan. (Time expired.)

Question put:

That Mr Stanhope’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

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