Page 1574 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 May 2017
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(3) further notes that:
(a) more detail has now been released by the Federal Liberal-National Government as to its efforts to forcibly relocate public sector workers out of Canberra to other regional centres;
(b) federal public sector agencies are currently being compelled to justify their continued existence in Canberra, subject to final federal decision over coming months;
(c) no cost benefit analysis has been released by the Federal Liberal-National Government regarding the recent forced relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and no commitment has been given that it will release such analysis for any future relocation; and
(d) so-called “decentralisation” of significant components of the Australian Public Service out of the ACT will have dire, detrimental consequences for Canberra’s and Australia’s economic, social and cultural fabric, including:
(i) increasing investment uncertainty and undermining continued economic growth;
(ii) disrupting the lives of Canberrans whose familial, social and work networks are firmly established in the ACT; and
(iii) jeopardising the efficiency and expertise of the Australian Public Service; and
(4) calls on the Government to continue to:
(a) use all tools at its disposal, including public advocacy, representation at local and national forums, and tripartisan action with other political parties as appropriate, to protect and support Canberra’s public sector workers;
(b) seek Federal Government recognition of Canberra as the appropriate home of the Australian Public Service, and a reversal of its policy of forced public sector relocation from Canberra to regional towns and centres around Australia; and
(c) vigorously refute attacks on Canberrans’ collective integrity, work ethic, and service to the wider Australian community.
I rise today to speak for Canberrans and I rise today to speak for Canberra—the nation’s capital and our cool little capital, the nation’s centre of administrative expertise and our workplace, the home of federal government and its work, but also our home. We are an inextricable mix of local and national. It is the reason for our success as a thriving regional centre. Any attempt to disentangle the two is utterly misguided and destructive.
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