Page 544 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 March 2023
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This has included a community panel to work to identify functional requirements, preferred location, facility design and ongoing building management models. I want to particularly acknowledge the efforts of Ms Orr and Mr Pettersson—as well as yourself, Mr Braddock, in asking this question—around engaging on the process.
I am advised that the concept design process has now concluded and it is broadly supported. So from here, through usual budget processes, the government will consider the construction business case for the project.
MR BRADDOCK: Chief Minister, can you please explain why the particular site was chosen?
MR BARR: It was through a process that assessed functional requirements, design requirements, building management and, indeed, community engagement. Projects of this nature do need to go through a concept design process. The level of detail and engagement to ensure a functional facility in an accessible location is testimony to quite a period of work.
MR DAVIS: Chief Minister, what services or programs do you expect to run at the facility? In particular, which ones do you expect to cater for young people?
MR BARR: The range of services can adapt over time, reflecting the changing needs within the community. I do want to acknowledge that there are interim needs at this point ahead of the construction of the new facility. The government, with particular input from Ms Orr and Mr Pettersson, have been focused on an interim solution whilst the new centre is being built. So we have looked to existing facilities that we could lease to provide space for community organisations, including youth focused ones, to ensure that, whilst the new centre is being built, there is also service provision in a temporary location.
Government—LGBTIQA+ inclusion strategy
MS ORR: My question is to the Chief Minister. Minister, the Capital of Equality Strategy was launched in 2019 and provided a longterm vision for Canberra to be the most LGBTIQ+ welcoming and inclusive city in Australia. Can you please provide an update on actions from the strategy and what has been achieved so far?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Orr for the question. The strategy that she has asked about clearly has launched a substantive body of work to make Canberra the most welcoming and inclusive city in the nation. The First Action Plan laid a very solid foundation. It banned harmful sexuality and gender identity conversion practices. It led to an amendment to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act to improve processes for changing birth registration and birth certificates. It saw an investment in support systems for Canberra’s schools including the Safe and Inclusive Schools initiative. It led to the funding of specialist, peer-led community-controlled services, such as Meridian and A Gender Agenda, to provide support for the community.
The Second Action Plan that was launched in March this year builds on that work and presents a range of actions to be achieved by the end of this current calendar year.
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