Page 1430 - Week 05 - Thursday, 13 May 1993

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thereafter, as this is the most effective time for vaccination. Older children will not be eligible for the funded program but will still be able to buy the vaccine. The Federal Minister for Health has agreed to seek advice on whether a catch-up program to vaccinate all children under five years of age is warranted.

Madam Speaker, that is a clear demonstration of Labor's commitment to the national health of Australia, and I am happy to be able to join Senator Richardson in spreading the good word about Labor's approach on health.

Business Strategy

MR WESTENDE: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Chief Minister. Does the Government have a strategy plan for enticing business to Canberra? If so, what are the main aspects of that strategy? Are these aimed at specific industries or businesses? If not, would the Government consider such a strategy and invite suggestions accordingly?

MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, could I preface my remarks by saying that one of the tasks which I have asked the Economic Priorities Advisory Committee, EPACT, to undertake for me is to develop just such a strategy, and that work is very well advanced. I hope to be able to report to the Assembly on it next week. There has indeed been ongoing work over the past few months aimed at developing a business strategy for the ACT.

However, even whilst that work has been going on - as we did prior to it - we have indeed conducted a number of campaign-type activities aimed at attracting particular types of business to the ACT. The one that springs most readily to my mind is the campaign for the ACT to be the telecommunications and computing capital of Australia. We have in fact put out a brochure drawing attention to the benefits of such industries locating in Canberra and, of course, drawing attention also to the state of excellence of that industry already in the ACT. Madam Speaker, I have also put out a broader prospectus for business generally in the ACT. The aim is to provide a package of information to local businesses and ask them to act as ambassadors for the ACT in pointing out to their business colleagues interstate and indeed overseas the attractions of the ACT as a place in which to do business. Members may be aware of that package.

Also, at a less formal level we conduct fairly constant discussions and negotiations with particular businesses. My Economic Development Division does a great deal of that kind of work. They keep in touch very closely with existing businesses and existing institutions in the ACT. We have, as well, an ongoing tourism promotion program, and I hope that a new tourism marketing strategy which is in preparation will be finalised very soon. The tourism industry, the tourism market, is a means by which the ACT could very actively promote itself and could expect to achieve some good results by way of expansion in business and by way of new industries in the ACT. In brief, there are a range of activities going on. I have asked for further work to be done on a strategy. That work is very near to completion, and I will be reporting further to the Assembly on it.


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