Page 3073 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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have also met with the Greens to raise the issue of increased demand for services. While it was pleasing to see the government last week provide $150,000 as part of its winter relief fund, when spread across a number of community groups, it will not go far.
We understand, from the estimates hearings, that the ACT foster care subsidy is being increased to bring the ACT in line with New South Wales and other states, through the negotiation of new contracts with out-of-home care agencies. Presently the subsidy paid to ACT foster carers is only around half the cost of raising a child and is totally inadequate. It is critical that these negotiations are done in a timely manner that allows the use of the subsidy for those who presently provide care. It may also encourage more people to take on a foster care role. Our feedback indicates a significant shortage of foster care families in the ACT, and the cost associated with care is a factor.
I would like to acknowledge the government’s recognition of key issues for children and young people in the ACT. The increases in speech pathologist services and therapy services are welcome, as well as the West Belconnen Child and Family Centre, and increased money for the Youth Advisory Committee. I also welcome the upcoming therapeutic facility at Marlow and will monitor the progress of the much-awaited unit and how this impacts the provision of therapy to care and protection.
Multicultural Youth Services, unfortunately, did not receive ongoing funding out of this budget. Their funding will cease on 30 June. It came from the community inclusion fund. It is disappointing to see that there was a lack of understanding of the importance of a specific youth service for young people who are refugees or from a multicultural background. We will continue to lobby to get some funding for MYS.
I am concerned, however, about the lack of a whole-of-government approach to issues relating to children and young people. I call on the minister to increase links between DHCS, the department of education, and even within DHCS, to areas such as multicultural affairs, to ensure that services provided by all government agencies to children and young people are consistent and provide the best possible outcome for children and young people.
The 2009 ACT budget has both positive and negative consequences for women of the ACT. I welcome many of the measures in this budget aimed at improving women’s health, wellbeing and safety, such as the diagnostic mammography services, paid maternity leave for the ACT public service and changes to public housing which will benefit victims of domestic violence.
I also welcome the commitment from the ACT government, after much lobbying, to continue funding for the Indigenous position at the Women’s Legal Centre. I do understand that the $50,000 a year they were receiving from the community inclusion fund is not enough to have a full-time worker and will continue to talk to the government on this matter.
The ACT Greens raised a concern with regard to the absence of a women’s statement in this year’s budget. This statement had been a fixture of previous budgets and
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