Page 3048 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 22 August 2017
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As minister, this provides me with the ability to give a written direction to the agency about the exercise of its functions or to request that it undertake additional functions. This ministerial direction provides the relevant minister with the ability to have direct input into the SLA’s activities, in consultation with the board, and through an instrument that is notifiable. I have notified the chair that I will be providing this statement of expectations in coming days. Setting a strong framework to enable the government to deliver the best outcomes in developing and renewing Canberra is a key responsibility that the government has for the community.
The act has been established in a way that will ensure that board members will offer a duty of good conduct to me, as the responsible minister, through my direction and involvement in establishing important priorities and within the current administrative arrangements. The agency will be supported by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
This duty of good conduct supplements the obligations and responsibilities for board members that arise under the Financial Management Act 1996 and the Public Sector Management Act 1994. As the approving minister, I am keen to establish an early standard in my work with the new agency, to ensure that we create an environment of clarity and openness and a mirroring of community expectations. The Minister for Urban Renewal will also play an important role in guiding and approving policy and projects that promote good practice urban renewal outside the City Renewal Authority’s defined precincts.
In establishing these two new entities, the government has listened to the views of community members and met our commitments through the parliamentary agreement, ensuring that the collective membership of both boards is informed by the broad social, environmental and financial objectives which have been clearly set out in the act. This will help to ensure that the Suburban Land Agency’s operations are supported and informed by a robust breadth of skills and experience, including urban design and planning; social inclusion and community building; civil engineering and civil works; real estate sales; property development; law, public administration and governance; affordable housing, community housing and public housing; and environmentally sustainable development. The Chief Minister has appointed the members of the Suburban Land Agency board to deliver on the strategic directions set by the ACT government for the benefit of the ACT community.
In December last year I outlined as one of my strategic priorities finding a new approach to housing so that more Canberra families can secure a home that meets their needs. Whilst this is a broad debate that covers many different spheres and stakeholders across the community, it is a priority that the Suburban Land Agency will be fundamental in bringing to fruition. Members may recall that recently I launched the community engagement program to enable the development of a new housing strategy for the ACT. This is important because we know of all the vital things which flow from a stable home—safety, security, health, confidence, employment and happiness.
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