Page 3893 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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have agreed to establish a joint South East Economic Development Council. The council complements those already established by the New South Wales Government in the Hunter and Wollongong regions. The council will replace and build on the work done by the Canberra Development Board.
The council is a recognition of four key issues: firstly, the importance of a joint ACT-New South Wales Government approach to issues affecting economic development; secondly, the vital economic interdependencies between the ACT and the south-east region of New South Wales; thirdly, the potential opportunities through a coordinated and common commitment to the goal of sustainable economic growth in the region; and, fourthly, the economic linkages between Sydney, as Australia's financial centre and international gateway, and Canberra, as the nation's capital strategically located between Sydney and Melbourne.
Mr Speaker, the council will comprise 11 members: a chairperson, who will be jointly agreed upon by Mr Greiner and me; four members nominated by the New South Wales Government and four nominated by the ACT Government; plus the head of the ACT Chief Minister's Department, Mr Bill Harris, and the head of the New South Wales Department of State Development, Dr John Saunders. The chair and membership will be finalised in the next few days, and the first formal meeting is expected to take place at the time of the New South Wales-ACT consultative forum in Queanbeyan in early December, which will be chaired by Mr Greiner and me.
Mr Speaker, I would be remiss at this time if I did not take the opportunity of placing on record the important contribution that the Canberra Development Board has made to the Territory, and particularly that of its chairman, Mr Fulton Muir. It is through the efforts of the board that we have a private sector in this city which now constitutes some 52 per cent of total ACT employment. The Government acknowledges the value of the work done by Mr Fulton Muir and the members of the board. This new council is intended to build on the work already done in the interests of the ACT community and the surrounding region.
AMBULANCE COVER
Discussion of Matter of Public Importance
MR SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Mr Berry proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:
The failure of the Government to provide adequate ambulance cover in the ACT.
MR BERRY (3.20): I get no joy from rising to discuss this issue because of its significance in terms of the delivery of services to the people of the ACT. Mr Speaker, this
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