Page 1946 - Week 05 - Thursday, 5 May 2011
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negotiations, I understand the budget has set aside money for reforms to the ACTION workplace structure and conditions. It is very important to address these workplace issues, and I will be keen to receive more information on this and how the government proposes to address issues with the workforce, which will also then allow for future improvements to the ACTION service.
In relation to housing, there is an increased focus on supporting vulnerable people. The Greens made a budget submission in relation to the agreement, asking for $10 million for public housing growth and an extra $2 million a year for retrofitting public housing. I am very pleased to see the $8 million over four years for energy efficiency funding. There is in the budget $9.5 million for public housing, which is a significant investment. However, we need to see this level of continued investment in each budget to maintain and grow public housing stock, particularly with federal stimulus funding about to come to an end.
The Greens are very pleased to see funding for the common ground feasibility study, which is an excellent proposal, and the expansion of housing at Narrabundah long-stay caravan park. We need to see more housing options for people on low incomes. I would also like to see funding for people with a mental illness who require high level and 24-hour care. Looking at the ACTCOSS budget response, they have similar concerns to the Greens about community housing being charged at 75 per cent of market rent and being labelled as affordable.
With disability, there is a focus in this budget on the education of young people with a disability, which Ms Hunter has already spoken about. That is to be commended and it is something in which the community has been calling for increased investment. The smart cards for wheelchair accessible taxis and increased vouchers are important, but they are only a part of what can be done and needs to be done. The Greens believe the current framework for wheelchair accessible taxis is problematic and needs to shift to salaried drivers. I am sceptical of what the government will achieve with releasing more licences and providing more subsidies to encourage people to drive wheelchair accessible taxis, as this approach has been tried before and failed.
With regards to multicultural affairs, the main focus of multicultural affairs in this budget is for additional funding for the Multicultural Festival and for further support for employment support programs. Getting employment for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, particularly people who come to Canberra as refugees and new arrivals, is vitally important. This is an important program that needs to be supported. The increased funding is welcome.
The Multicultural Festival is an important way to involve the Canberra community in other cultures. However, we need a process of developing ongoing cultural understanding in the community. The Greens would like to see programs that focus on multi-faith religious understanding pursued particularly through schools. Such programs have been successful in other states, and this is something we would like pursued in terms of making sure that we develop ongoing culture understanding in the community. One-off events like the Multicultural Festival are good and they are wonderful for the community, but we need ongoing understanding to be developed.
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