Statement made on 26 February 2009 by Senator Sharon Carstairs (retired)
Hon. Sharon Carstairs:
Honourable senators, my question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate, but in her particular role as Minister of State for Seniors.
On Monday of this week, the minister, together with the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, announced that $4 million would be given to four programs to help reduce the incidence of abuse against older adults. This was part of the $13.3 million program announced in the budget of March 2008 and is a most welcome announcement.
However, the minister announced in June that this program would be rolled out at the end of September. We know it could not have been rolled out at the end of September because we were in an election period, but the election was held in mid-October.
Why did it take this long for the announcement to be made? Can the minister tell this chamber how much of this money can actually be spent in this fiscal year, which ends 34 days from today?
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