Page 1008 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Hunter for her question. As far as I understand it, the negotiations have been concluded. There are still some contracts that are outstanding, but the understanding of what the contracts will contain and the payment arrangements are in place. For those organisations that do not have a signed contract in place, arrangements have been made for payment based on agreed understanding and negotiations between those contracts so that those organisations will not be out of pocket. I think everyone here would understand that small organisations rely on government grants to be paid in a timely manner and that is what the Community Services Directorate has sought to do.
So, yes, there are some formal contracts that are yet to be signed, but certainly the advice I have is that arrangements have been made for payment. That leads me to the conclusion then that negotiations around the understanding of contract commitments are in place.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Hunter, a supplementary.
MS HUNTER: Minister, are you concerned that this was a long process and that contracts were not finalised in order to begin the program on 1 March, although that was the promised starting date?
MS BURCH: I think I would concur with Ms Hunter to say that it is probably less than ideal that formal contracts were not in place. This process has been a long time in coming. It is quite a significant shift in service provision and contract arrangements in the youth and family support arena. There are new ways of doing business that have come into effect, and I agree and I have made comment that it is less than ideal not to have formal contracts in place. It is my understanding that certainly all those organisations that are now in the new system have had detailed negotiations and agreements in place and contracts are being signed increasingly now over the next little while.
MS BRESNAN: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, can you advise how this is impacting on service delivery in the ACT, and how will you rectify this situation?
MS BURCH: Going to the impact on service, this is a change of service systems, and the key organisations that are part of this new system meet regularly and go through making sure that the protocols are in place—the transition, the information and the referral systems are in place. There is no doubt there will be some challenges and some tweaking as we move through the new system, but I have confidence in the leadership shown by the Youth Coalition and the families of the ACT in partnership with Parentline, which has a key role in the central point of referral, that this will be moved forward. That will not be without a need to maybe tweak here and there as we move through, but the fundamentals are there. This is a system and a program that focuses on those in most need, and I do not think those in this chamber would think that that is not a target that we should all be having in our minds.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video