[Greens-Media] ACT budget will hit children hardest

[Manderson, Roland]

=======================================
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey MEDIA RELEASE
=======================================

Fri 25 Aug 06



ACT budget will hit children hardest 


ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has pointed to national figures showing the increasing proportion of young people accessing emergency housing as evidence that the ACT Government's cuts will hit children hardest.

"Mr Stanhope claims that our children will thank him for making tough financial decisions, such as the $4 million cut to emergency housing, in the budget that was passed at 5am this morning."

"The latest national figures show 43% of people accessing emergency housing are children.  There are a lot of young people in Canberra who will not be thankful" said Dr Foskey.

"While the ACT Government squabbles with the Commonwealth over matching funds for homelessness services, more and more children are living on the streets and receiving diminishing support." 

"Recent reports have shown that more than 1000 children in Canberra end up homeless each year."

"This majority Labor Government has denied the Territory is facing a financial crisis.  It argues that it is making these cuts for our future."

"The budget's anticipated school closures and cuts to homelessness services puts the future of many children and young people at risk" Dr Foskey said.


================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
====== www.debfoskey.com ======= 
  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------