Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to follow the contribution by the member for Mallee. It actually gave me some understanding of the approach the Abbott government is taking to community services. The approach is: let them do it by themselves—no role for the federal government whatsoever. Stand there like Pontius Pilate, wash your hands and say, 'Hey, you can do it by yourselves. If you can't do it by yourselves, or if you need some assistance from the federal government, that means that you are not worthy of any support.'

It really has given me some understanding that I was lacking beforehand, because I was wondering: why is it that the Abbott government has cut all the funding to community services? Why is it that the Abbott government is not funding community health programs and programs that help people who are addicted to ice? Why is it that the Abbott government walks away from supporting families? Why is that the Abbott government walks away from supporting anyone who looks to government for support? It is because those on the other side of this parliament believe: they can do it themselves.

It is not about the community; it is about the economy. We are here in this parliament for one reason and one reason only: to be slaves to the economy. We are not here to support the community. We are not here to ensure that those grassroots community organisations have the funds that they need to provide services to people who desperately look for help. No, no, no. Government is not about that; government is about the economy.

I actually thought the economy was there to support the community but, unfortunately, those on the other side of this parliament do not get it. They are slaves to the mantra of doing everything for the economy rather than to the people who put them here and the community that they represent here in this parliament. I am absolutely disgusted listening to the contributions made by those on the other side of this parliament It shows that they have got absolutely no idea what community services are. They have got absolutely no idea what their communities look for from their government. They are so out of touch and arrogant and they really do not want to support the people that they are here to represent.

But now we come to talk about ice, the ice task force and addressing the issue of ice. Ice is a dreadful drug. It has caused so much harm and so much hurt throughout the community. But this government's response is to create task forces, to advertise in newspapers, and to hold forums throughout Australia to hear and tell horrific stories and not even check whether those stories are correct. At one of those forums—

Mr Conroy interjecting—

Yes, I know. The member for Charlton reminded me it was the member for Dobell who told of a horrific story of a person gouging their eye out at John Hunter Hospital in the electorate of the member for Charlton. But then, when the veracity of this statement was checked, I think you will be absolutely devastated to hear that there were no medical records of this occurrence. I just do not understand. The best way to address ice addiction is not just to hold community forums, not to place advertisements in the local papers, not to promote the members opposite but rather to ensure that those services are funded on the ground—services that people need to actually fight their ice addiction. I think this government stands condemned because it is all about promotion, noise, fluff and bubbles rather than action and addressing the real issue. (Time expired)

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