Page 3258 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 21 August 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Members, allow the minister to respond to the question. Minister.
MS BERRY: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The levy is about making sure that the government, working very closely with front-line services, looks at new and innovative ways to address issues that people in our community are facing. One of those programs, which has been talked about in detail in this place, is the room for change program, which not only ensures that women and children can stay safely in their home but ensures that perpetrators can also get support to change their behaviour so that they can move back safely with their family and that the domestic and family violence ends. That is again a measured, nation-leading project that the ACT government is working on through the family safety levy, through co-design, working very closely with the domestic and family violence crisis service to make sure that there is a program that can keep women and children safe in their homes but also looking at how perpetrator change programs can support everybody to get on with their lives. (Time expired.)
MR MILLIGAN: Minister, why was the funding for this service not locked in and legislated as promised?
MS BERRY: I have responded to that question. I can refer members opposite to the numerous responses that both I and the Attorney-General have provided around funding for legal aid and the purpose of the family safety levy.
Government—support for emergency services
MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, what update can you provide on the construction of a fire station in my electorate of Murrumbidgee?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Cody for her interest in protecting the Canberra community. The Molonglo Valley region is a growing area of the ACT that includes the suburbs of Wright, Coombs, Denman Prospect and the future suburb of Whitlam. It is anticipated that by 2030 the population of this region will be approximately 35,000.
As part of the 2019-20 ACT budget, the ACT government announced funding of $456,000 so that work can commence on the due diligence and preliminary design for the new combined ACT Ambulance Service and ACT Fire & Rescue station in the Molonglo Valley. The due diligence investigation and preliminary design for a Molonglo Valley station will include site identification, confirmation of the station requirements, specification development, consultation, station design, approval requirements, and construction cost estimates. I look forward to working with Ms Cody as this project progresses. This is just one example of the support we are providing to our firefighters, paramedics and other emergency services.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video