Page 2373 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 12 August 2014
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on on previous occasions, we have taken them to a number of sites. I acknowledge Mr Wall’s remarks about the fact that there is an active effort going on, and I agree with him that we need to find them new premises. They are a very effective and successful organisation. Similarly, I know that Winnunga are bursting at the seams because of their level of success. People in government are actively searching out new premises that might be suitable for them, and looking at other options, as we are with Gugan. It may be a case of improvements to the existing premises as much as new premises. These things are important. I can assure the Assembly that, through Property Group, which now sits with Mr Barr but which I had responsibility for until a few weeks ago, we are actively seeking to support these organisations.
With those few remarks I simply observe that we have much work to do to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The government remains committed to doing that, and we look forward to working with a range of community organisations to deliver some of those improvements.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (7.59): I had meant to mention recommendations 7 and 8 when I spoke earlier; I will take the opportunity now. The recommendations are in relation to the emergency financial and material aid program for Kippax UnitingCare. I particularly would like to commend Minister Gordon Ramsay—I think they call him executive minister out there—for the work that he does but also for his perfect summary of what being in the community services sector is like. He told the estimates committee that it was like building a plane while it is flying. I think we can all appreciate the level of difficulty that that would create, with the diversity of the people that Gordon and his crew come to the assistance of.
Recommendation 7 reads:
The Committee recommends that the ACT Government tell the Assembly before the Budget debate begins why it has not acted upon its review of the Emergency Financial and Material Aid Program and that it immediately increases the Budget from $315,000 to $410,000 for Kippax Uniting Care.
Gordon put the case that they were stretched, that they had used up their funds and that they could spend, in his estimation, up to the $410,000 mark looking after people in difficulty in the ACT, particularly with the onset of winter, which adds a whole new set of different problems for people who are in difficulties, whatever they might be.
The government’s response is that this be agreed in part. It says:
Current Emergency Material and Financial Aid (EMFA) contracts are in place until 30 June 2015. CSD has agreed to undertake a review of these programs as part of a wider consideration of the provision of emergency relief, food assistance and financial counselling in the ACT.
The response goes on to say:
Funding levels will be considered as part of future Budget processes. The ACT Government has not been able to act on the review as the Issues Paper on the
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