Page 82 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 10 February 2015

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The Local Services Network will be implemented over the next 18 months, with a significant focus on community participation, circle inclusion and ensuring the most disadvantaged members of our community are supported to have a say on matters that affect them. The Better Services Taskforce is now considering recommendations for future community engagement based on the success of this early work. This advice will support more effective engagement with community members across the ACT.

Looking more broadly at the government’s work across planning, infrastructure and urban renewal, the government’s record is one of listening and acting. When you are on the ground in Belconnen you hear many supportive views of people for the way important projects are being discussed with the community. This includes consultation on the Belconnen town centre master plan, which has just concluded on the time to talk website; consultation on the Evatt and Florey shop centres; 40-kilometre zones in Jamison, Charnwood and Kippax; and upgrades to sporting facilities in Weetangera and Charnwood.

Another example is Higgins oval, a project I became involved in last year. Residents support redevelopment but they wanted the community oval preserved and it has been. These stories are repeated across our city on major projects and policies as well as smaller ones and the government continues to expand the channels through which we are communicating with Canberrans.

The channels include the time to talk website, the digital mail service, Twitter cabinet, the mobile Canberra app, the Canberra Times community noticeboard and our community newsletter, regular stalls, shopfronts and community meetings. The ACT government are proud of the inclusive and consultative way we govern. We value collaboration with our community and we believe in a positive public discussion about decisions affecting the ACT. This was the sentiment of the Chief Minister’s statement this morning and it is the way we will continue to work with and serve our community.

Discussion concluded.

Ms Joy Burch—portfolio responsibilities

Motion of no confidence

Debate resumed.

MR DOSZPOT (Molonglo) (4.24): I stand to support the Leader of the Opposition in his motion of no confidence in Ms Burch, most particularly in her role as minister for education. We have heard of her many accidental mistakes, her lack of judgement over so many things and her innate ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. In fact, I doubt if there is a more serial offender in this place and in this regard than the minister for education herself.

Let me remind the Assembly of some that are particularly related to the education portfolio. Who can forget her lack of judgement when attending a year 8 school civics class in 2010, along with other MLAs. Ms Burch took along some handouts. All very


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