Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I have lots of notes here but I hope I can do justice to them all. Let me deal firstly with those that might be in temporary premises. I mentioned Wollongong, Mildura, Strathpine and Townsville. In Townsville the reason for the change was related to Cyclone Larry. In relation to Strathpine it was that the demand for commercial premises in the area where they thought premises might be readily obtainable had so outstripped that which was available that they were unable to obtain premises. But they will be able to obtain appropriate accommodation that meets their needs on a temporary basis, and permanent premises will be later sited. Those sorts of explanations are part of the process and I am happy to give the honourable member details.

In relation to the training and the range of issues that have been raised, there is a week-long training program next week in Canberra and the week after in Perth. There are also seminars for legal practitioners that will be part of the process. Safety is a paramount issue and there have been guidelines developed on safety. Staff will be trained to deal with potential risks such as violence, which is something people are very conscious of. Things such as separate entrances have been included when centres are having their premises approved. In relation to complaints, there are capacities to complain to the family relationship centres, then to my department and ultimately to me as the Attorney if there are difficulties. These are issues which ought to be seen in context.

I know there is a desire that I should finish by 7.30, so I apologise for being fairly brief. We are having 65 centres through the three-year funding. There are almost 150 electorates in Australia. The idea of judging where centres should be placed by relating them to electorates, I was told, was very hazardous. But I notice that, out of the 65 family relationship centres, some 29 will be in electorates of opposition or Independent members, including the electorates of the members for Brand, Gellibrand, Perth, Melbourne, Lilley, Rankin and Reid, amongst your frontbench colleagues.

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