Page 3373 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 17 August 2011
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MS BURCH: The Oakton report recommended increased funding. That occurred in a budget bid in the 2010-11 budget where we secured $1.7 million. We also secured an additional $1.8 million in the most recent budget. The other recommendations were around funding and there were a number of recommendations that we have implemented. There is not one recommendation in that report that has not been actioned.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, have you now read the Oakton report in full?
MS BURCH: Clearly.
MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, of the 220 recommendations, how many of them raised issues that you already knew existed?
MS BURCH: There were a number of recommendations that were issues that I was aware of, which is why before the report was tabled I implemented a discussion with the community around a diversion framework, which is why we implemented a single case management model, which was why we implemented an after-hours bail service.
This is not a static environment. Back in late 2010 I implemented a change management process at Bimberi and that has been reaping benefits. It is noted in the report. It is an ongoing piece of work to ensure that we have good contemporary practice across youth justice.
Housing—public waiting list
MS BRESNAN: My question is to the Minister for Community Services and is in regard to the public housing waiting list. Minister, the Canberra Times reported on 1Â August this year that the ACT government had assessed about 150 people as having a high priority need for public housing accommodation. However, the Ombudsman had said some weeks earlier that he was concerned that this was an arbitrary number determined by Housing ACT and was not based on the number of people who met set criteria. Minister, why does Housing ACT cap the number of people on the high priority waiting list at 150 rather than basing it on whoever meets a certain level of criteria?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Bresnan for her question. There is no capping on the high needs. There is no capping on any of the three categories, whether it is high need, priority or standard housing. They are assessed. A multidisciplinary team makes an assessment whether they meet the criteria to go onto the priority list or whether they remain on the standard list. But there is no capping.
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