[Greens-Media] Join the dots on social policy

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey MEDIA RELEASE
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22 Sept 06

Join the dots on social policy

 ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has called for the ACT Government to pursue
an integrated approach to social policy in order to support children at
risk.

"It is ironic that in the same month that the ACT Government releases a
report on the death and injury of children of drug and alcohol dependent
parents; it abandons plans to extend Karralika: a major family based
service for assisting people to overcome their addictions" Dr Foskey
said today.

"The latest budget also terminated the minimal funding of a program
which supported grandparents looking after kids whose parents can't care
for them."

"On the one hand, a major investment in rehabilitation has been put on
hold, ostensibly because of entrenched community opposition - although
some expansion was widely supported throughout the neighbouring
suburbs."

"On the other hand, this government couldn't find the $15-20,000 needed
to support a scheme which provided practical assistance to extended
family members responsible for kids at risk." 

"This is a case of joining the dots. We need a real social impact
analysis - especially if budget cuts have to be made - so that people
aren't put at risk by rushed funding decisions."

"The Government's report into child death and injury released yesterday
suggested that Government agencies needed to communicate better. I've no
doubt that's a factor. But it's about ensuring sufficient support for
community based programs as well."

"Almost every Member for Brindabella appears to be claiming credit for
preventing the expansion of Karralika, and has celebrated that result.
Without a doubt, to my mind, it was a sad step in the wrong direction." 

"The abandonment of the grand parents program is another, more subtle,
example of a failure to consider the impact of a decision" Dr Foskey
said.


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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
====== www.debfoskey.com ======= 
  
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