Page 1959 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 June 2015
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MR BARR: The business community is supporting it. It is a good project for Canberra. Those opposite are always quick to criticise, but when particular events—
Dr Bourke: Point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Sorry; there is a point of order, Mr Barr. Stop the clock, please.
Dr Bourke: Madam Speaker, both Mr Coe and Mr Hanson are persistently interrupting Mr Barr while he is speaking, which is disorderly. I draw that to your attention.
MADAM SPEAKER: It has not failed to pass my attention. Mr Barr, on the question.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Speaker. So, in concluding my answer, this is a positive project for Canberra—one that has been well received. More than 25,000 people have attended events at Westside park. Thousands more will attend the many, many events that will be held in the weeks, months and years ahead. It is great to see some innovation, small businesses achieving great success. Surely we should get behind innovative projects for this city, particularly ones that are engaging younger Canberrans.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: Chief Minister, as one of the over-50s I pose the question: are the problems with the pop-up village a forerunner of what is to come with the city to the lake project?
MR BARR: I am very pleased at the level of community engagement with the Westside park, noting its target demographic is younger than Mr Doszpot and, indeed, younger than AM radio listeners, generally speaking, and perhaps even the audience of the print edition of the Canberra Times. It is okay. In this city we are big enough to have some events and activities that have a demographic target that is somewhat younger than members of this place. That is all right. That is a good thing for Canberra.
Our single largest demographic is people aged between 20 and 24. To have some events and activities, places and spaces in this city that engage that demographic in particular is a good thing for Canberra. It is disappointing that the conservatives in this place once again want to talk down anything innovative. Anything that might be good for young people but supported by young people is talked down by the conservatives on the other side.
Economy—business development strategy
MS FITZHARRIS: My question is to the Minister for Economic Development. Minister, how will the government’s renewed business development strategy build on the practical outcomes achieved in the first phase to grow our economy, diversify our private sector and create new jobs?
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