Page 161 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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In paragraph (6)(b), omit: “demonstrate that commitment by identifying and including specific provisions in the 2019-2020 ACT Budget that address important issues facing those in middle childhood, including giving”, substitute: “give”.
This is a minimal amendment to clarify that the Assembly is not seeking to direct the executive in regard to the budget. I note that this is consistent with Mrs Kikkert’s earlier remarks in relation to her own motion.
Mrs Kikkert highlighted, through the motion, the important community consultation process that the government undertakes in preparing the annual territory budget. This motion quotes and summarises a number of the submissions received through the community consultation process. I do not intend to go through each of the points made in the very long motion—
Mrs Kikkert: And important.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Very important—noting that some of the factual information presented has been taken out of context, and some of it does not reflect Australian data. But that would be nitpicking. This is a very important topic. It is very important that the Assembly has the opportunity to discuss the importance of the middle years, and the importance of the territory budget community consultation process.
The government opened the community consultation on the 2019 budget in August 2018 and took submissions for three months. Over 140 local community groups, service providers and individuals made submissions through this annual process. The government gives consideration to all submissions lodged when it is preparing the ACT budget.
A number of community submissions for the 2019-20 budget, including those noted in this motion, focused on how services can better support children and young people in the middle years. These organisations are vital partners with the ACT government. Canberra PCYC, for example, is an important partner in supporting some of Canberra’s most vulnerable young people. The ACT government funds PCYC and a number of other community organisations to deliver a range of supports to young people, including intensive diversion, group programs and case management.
I would also note in particular organisations such as Families ACT and the Youth Coalition, and acknowledge their work and advocacy in bringing together the latest research and policy thinking on the middle years in the ACT context.
Over the last two years we have been working closely with the community sector to consider how services can better support children and young people in the middle years and how the system can shift towards providing early support before children, young people and families reach crisis.
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