Page 2943 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 16 October 2007
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Pressures on housing and the impacts of reduced affordability have been recognised by the government as consequences of our shifting demographic base. Improving affordability represents one of the most complex planning issues of our time, requiring us to balance social policy and economic considerations with the realities of the market, the limited resources of the public sector and the interests of the environment. In April 2007, this government responded with the affordable housing action plan, which provides a comprehensive road map for tackling this difficult issue.
A number of interjurisdictional challenges are increasingly occupying the attention of Australian governments, including the ACT. While water and regional planning issues are the most obvious of these, there are also a number of pressing social issues which require interjurisdictional action and cooperation. These include the literacy and numeracy of our children, the stresses placed upon our communities through poor early childhood experiences and the rise of type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. The release of the ACT government’s human capital action plan earlier this year represents a first step in tackling these matters, which cannot be ignored by any Australian government concerned with the long-term future and welfare of its community.
The social plan progress report has set out the particular challenges ahead for us against each of the priority areas established in the social plan. The report not only identifies these pressures and challenges but also discusses some of the government’s planned responses. The seven priorities of the Canberra social plan are economic opportunities for all Canberrans; respect for diversity and human rights; a safe, strong and cohesive community; improve health and wellbeing; lead Australia in education, training and lifelong learning; housing for a future Canberra; and respect and protect the environment.
There is no doubt that the ACT has a strong economy that is responding well to global and national economic challenges. In this respect there is a great deal of which we as a government can be proud. We have maintained our AAA credit rating and created 11,000 new jobs in four years, maintaining the lowest unemployment rate in the country. The ACT has recently recorded the strongest trend growth in residential building approvals across the country, and growth in retail turnover in the ACT has outstripped the national average for the year.
The strength of our retail trade and our housing market shows that Canberrans are confident in the future of the ACT economy and the financial management of this government. However, economic success should not overshadow the fact that there are Canberrans who experience disadvantage and exclusion. Promoting participation and access to economic opportunity for all is as much a social objective as it is an economic objective.
Another key challenge facing the ACT, and the nation, is the shortage of skilled workers. The ACT Skills Commission has been established to focus on developing strategies and actions to help overcome this challenge. In addition, the government will continue both the live in Canberra campaign and the development of the successful skilled migration scheme in order to attract skilled workers from other states.
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