Page 2400 - Week 08 - Thursday, 6 June 2013
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year. I look forward to continuing to work with the community sector to continue the good initiatives, such as this one, to improve opportunity and fairness for all Canberrans.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, can you further advise how these measures will benefit the Canberra community?
MR BARR: The budget begins the funding of one of the most significant social reforms of our generation, the introduction of DisabilityCare, to be led in the ACT by Minister Burch. $5.5 million over two years has been allocated for enhanced services to prepare the ACT for the full rollout of DisabilityCare from 2014. In addition, $10.6Â million has been allocated from the commonwealth government. $1.6 million has been allocated in 2013-14 to support the transport of students with a disability to and from ACT schools. $1.3 million has been allocated for additional support for students with complex learning needs in ACT public schools. This is integral to the national education reforms and will support ACT students in this important area, targeting resources to students with special needs.
I am very pleased that this budget contains an allocation, $740,000 over the next two years, to provide a payroll tax rebate for organisations who employ people with a disability, particularly those who are leaving school for the first time. $360,000 is provided for the mobile attendant and evening care services program to provide drop-in support services for people with a core profound disability in the territory.
The budget also provides significant support for homelessness services and infrastructure, led by Minister Rattenbury, including $7.6 million to support the development of the common ground project, a new and transformational approach to delivering permanent solutions for homelessness.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, what are the 38 jobs that will be cut in the Community Services Directorate next year to fund your other priorities?
MR BARR: There will in fact be job growth associated with new initiatives within this sector, particularly in the disability area. There were some positions that were required for this current financial year that were on contract to prepare for particular programs and the implementation and transition into new arrangements. Those contracts are concluded at the end of this financial year and, indeed, will not be renewed. But new contracts will be in place in relation to new programs that are on offer.
So across the ACT Community Services Directorate, we are seeking to target resources to our high-priority projects that I have outlined in my responses to Ms Porter’s questions. There will from time to time be movement of staff across directorates to focus on particular government priorities.
Mr Smyth: And none of those new projects use staff.
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