Minister Barr: COAG takes important steps forward
- Written by ACT Government
Released 23/07/2015
Today leaders reached broad consensus on a number of steps to tackle domestic violence.
We all recommitted to joint funding for a national awareness raising scheme. We heard from Australian of the Year Rosie Batty who encouraged states to adopt school programs to teach our children about healthy and respectful relationships. This mirrors the step we’ve already taken in the ACT by funding a $615,000 program to support ACT public schools to provide social and emotional learning programs to help kids learn early on in their lives about the importance of respectful relationships, and give them easy and accessible ways to get support.
In addition, we have provided an extra $250,000 to crisis services to help meet increased demand arising from the heightened community focus on domestic violence.
In June the ACT Government also appointed a Coordinator-General to drive the ACT’s efforts to tackle domestic and family violence in our community. The Coordinator-General will ensure that all Government reform programs and initiatives are consistent with the key actions outlined in the Second Implementation Plan for the ACT Strategy, which is near completion.
We also discussed ice. All governments agreed to work with the Taskforce to develop a National Ice Action Strategy.
Importantly at yesterday’s Leaders’ Retreat we put health funding firmly at the top of the agenda. Australia’s population is ageing and our health costs are increasing. This is the clear view of all State and Territory leaders. Australia's Governments simply don't have enough revenue to meet our nation's growing health burden
In order to respond to this revenue challenge, it is clear that we need to take a fresh look at revenues and this means looking at a range of potential new revenue sources at each level of government
We also agreed to look at reform in education to give our children the best start in life and I will work with the Queensland Premier on options to make Australia’s schools even better.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
