Page 2973 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 15 September 2015
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As the minister has described, there is a solid plan to build on the many successes in our territory’s VET sector. At the ACT Training Excellence Awards earlier this month the successes of the sector were on display. At the ceremony the territory’s apprentices, trainees, students, teachers, trainers, RTOs, group training organisations and employers were recognised for their commitment and achievements. These positive stories, especially from students, about their vocational education and training experiences show how far the sector has progressed.
The seven key areas of reform outlined in the future directions review will continue to support the high quality delivery of vocational education and training to our students. We owe it to our students who choose to undertake VET courses to provide them with superior, integrated educational experiences so that they can progress into their post-school lives with practical skills. I believe that these reforms will assist students to do so.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Refugees and asylum seekers
Ministerial statement
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Women and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Social Inclusion and Equality) (10.22): I present the following paper:
ACT response to refugees and asylum seekers—Ministerial statement, 15 September 2015.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
As countries across Europe and the world seek to respond to the acute refugee crisis brought on by the conflict in Syria and Iraq many Canberrans are thinking about our role in this response. The ACT government has welcomed the federal government’s decision to accept an intake of 12,000 humanitarian entrants and is committed to doing our part in this. There is a lot of detail still to be worked through as we carry through on this decision and I will work to keep the Assembly informed as the response progresses. What we can do at this point is reflect on the ACT as a community well prepared and willing to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum to our city.
I have spoken with many Canberrans shocked and saddened by the crisis which has played out in the Middle East and in Europe. Last Tuesday evening I joined a candlelight vigil with hundreds of people who had been moved to action by the heartbreaking image of Aylan Kurdi’s body washed up on the shore of Turkey after his family had attempted to flee Syria. This moving vigil was repeated around Australia, attended by people from different political and religious backgrounds. It was also consistent with the caring nature of our community.
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