Page 2946 - Week 08 - Thursday, 17 August 2017
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ACT Labor went to the last election with a plan to ensure that our city continues to get stronger, fairer and more vibrant in a time of significant change.
Often the story we hear about Canberra is a story about averages, about a well-educated city with high average incomes. But we know there is a deeper story about Canberra that needs to be told. Those who are doing it tough are not invisible in the eyes of this government. We see them and we will always stand up for them.
This budget recognises the importance of looking beyond the headline figures and delivering the support Canberrans need when they need it. We have made investments in support for Canberrans who might otherwise be left behind, disadvantaged or simply not as engaged and included as they should be: young people, children and families engaged in the child protection system, Canberrans with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans, Canberrans from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Labor values mean that we stand with our neighbours and provide effective services to address their needs.
We do this in partnership with individuals and communities, noting that the community services sector is also undergoing unprecedented change. Many of the old ways of working do not apply in the 21st century. Organisations and governments have to respond to the need for personalised and culturally aware services, because what it is really about is putting people first.
For Canberrans with a disability, the ACT government recognises that it has an important role in providing oversight and policy expertise to ensure that the NDIS delivers for Canberrans. We are providing $2.2 million over four years for the office for disability to continue the ongoing policy work related to the implementation of the NDIS in the ACT. We are also providing $200,000 over four years to establish new disability access grants. These grants will support greater social inclusion of people with disability by providing funding for training, increased awareness of disability issues and infrastructure modifications for community organisations.
The government is also improving the responsiveness of our justice system through the development of a disability justice strategy to ensure that people with disability are treated equally before the law. And we are funding a new position of ACT senior practitioner to provide oversight of the use of restrictive practices and work towards their elimination.
In this time of great change for the community service and disability sectors, the budget also committed $70,000 for SHOUT to continue its operations while it develops the sustainable business model for the important services it delivers to local disability and health-related self-help organisations. We have committed $200,000 in this budget in addition to the $50,000 in 2016-17 to develop and commence the implementation of an ACT carer strategy in partnership with Carers ACT.
The ACT government is also continuing its commitment to protect and support our most vulnerable children and young people. This includes $883,000 to continue the important work of the children and young people death review committee which reviews all child deaths in the ACT, identifies emerging patterns and trends,
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