Page 2500 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 17 June 2009
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applied consistently across the commonwealth, state and territory governments and their departments. The fact that the role of the ACT may be adjusted as a result of this trend, as well as the ACT government’s experience in providing these services, are reasons why the ACT government should play a strong part in the processes leading up to this compact.
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs consulted with representatives of ACT Health and the Department of Disability, Housing, and Community Services on 2 December 2008 to obtain the ACT’s view on the national compact and to learn from the ACT’s experience of working under our social compact. Ongoing participation in the consultation process will enable the ACT government to play an active and appropriate role that will strengthen the sector within the territory and, as a consequence, contribute towards positive, socially inclusive outcomes and strengthening of our community. This is, of course, what the compact has been designed to champion.
A national compact should be used to strengthen the compact that this government has with the not-for-profit sector in the ACT. The ACT government should support this national compact. Promotion and education of the value of the existing social compact would be an invaluable support for the emerging national compact.
The ongoing active participation of the ACT government in the consultation process will be vital. As one of only three states and territories which have a compact between state and territory government and the not-for-profit sector, we can bring our valuable experience to the process. Obviously, therefore, it is important that we share our experience with the commonwealth.
Finally, it is important that we use the national compact to benefit the ACT government’s compact with the sector. By ensuring that there are synergies between the ACT and the national compact, the ACT government will maximise the advantages which are to be found in both.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (4.49): I thank Ms Porter for bringing forward the issue of the compact and, more importantly, bringing to prominence, as is appropriate, the good work, the outstanding work, of the not-for-profit sector and the important work that the not-for-profit sector performs in our community. The diversity of organisations that encompass the not-for-profit sector show just how diverse our community is, as well as the breadth of interest and the breadth of need in our community.
I suppose, coming from a Liberal tradition, I am not a great one for grandiose government statements in support of things because quite often what we end up with is the dead hand of government making it harder for community organisations to do what they set out to do.
I have been reflecting on that as I go through some of the recommendations of the estimates committee inquiry into the budget and the impact that many government decisions and budget decisions have on the not-for-profit sector. Government intervention is not always a great thing. I am minded of the government’s proposed
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