David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Finance and Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher, representing the minister for Social Services. Minister, in a very welcome move, your government released a month ago the first ever standalone plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children, backed by $218.3 million in new funding over four years. How much of that funding will be invested in setting up ACCOs to deliver community led specialist support services that help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families who are experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence in the ACT?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pocock for the question. I'm not sure I've got all of the detail in terms of being able to answer that, but the majority of the allocation to that plan, 'Our Ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices', which was a huge piece of work that has been delivered in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women across the country, as Senator Pocock said, backed by $218.3 million in new funding over four years—my understanding of that is that that funding will primarily be provided to Aboriginal community controlled organisations to deliver community led specialist support services as a commitment to the principles that underpin the plan, which are that ACCOs are in a better position to deliver tailored support services to local communities.

So that's primarily how the funding will be allocated to the national network of up to 40 Aboriginal community controlled organisations to deliver those services. There may be exceptions to that where, for one reason or another, that's the appropriate decision. But, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, the fundamental principles underpinning 'Our Ways—Strong Ways—Our Voices', as the first ever dedicated plan to end violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children, have been to partner with those organisations that are best placed to deliver those support services. It has been a matter of significant discussion, since the national plan was implemented and agreed by states and territories, that a specific plan that responded to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women was required, which has led to this plan being agreed and the funding being allocated to it.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock, first supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. I really appreciate your work on this. I've been advised by the CEO of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre that they face a cut to their funding of 60 per cent, meaning that First Nations victims-survivors of sexual violence in the ACT will lose access to the specialist Nguru Program they operate, from June. Will there be a net increase or a net decrease in support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families who are experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence in the ACT under this program?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll see if I can provide any further information, but we are putting additional resources into resourcing the dedicated plan—'Our Ways'—to make sure that we are responding to some of the level of needs that are being sought by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, represented by those women's organisations. I've seen the story in the Canberra Times today around decisions they are making with the funding that's sometimes provided through the Commonwealth but also their own funding to put that out to a process for an ACCO, an Aboriginal controlled community organisation, to apply for the money that has been provided, but it really is a matter for the ACT government. From our point of view, we are putting in additional resources that are being provided to organisations and states and territories. If there's anything further I can provide, I will update the senator.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock, second supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. Minister, what steps is the government taking to ensure that the ACT government funds services like the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and DVCS beyond June this year? How are you ensuring that money is actually getting to the ground where it needs to get?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock asks a really important question. We can provide additional resourcing, but we want to make sure that does flow on to services. That doesn't always mean that services will always get what—the arrangements they have are under contract for a certain period of time. I know the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre are an amazing service. I haven't spoken to the Minister for Women in the ACT about this particular decision, but, from reading the article, I can understand about having to look at what's being offered and looking at how we entrust Aboriginal controlled community organisations to provide a level of service in line with the commitments we've made under our plan. In relation to DVCS—again, another amazing service here in the ACT—there is an ongoing issue, which the Commonwealth is engaging with the ACT government on to make sure that that funding is provided to that organisation.