Page 4245 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 24 October 2017

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There are many important commitments and areas of work that the government will focus on in the next 12 months. We will continue to strengthen the territory’s budget position in parallel to our tax reform agenda. This is to create a fairer Canberra, a stronger economy and a more vibrant city. Work will continue on stage 1 and the planning and development of stage 2 of the city-wide light rail network as well as boosting our bus network. We will open Canberra’s teaching and rehabilitation public hospital at the University of Canberra.

Over the next 12 months the ACT will welcome our second international carrier to Canberra airport, offering services to the Middle East and beyond. We will continue working with the New South Wales and federal governments on a range of practical speed and scheduling improvements on the train line between Canberra and Sydney. We will also continue to develop export and investment opportunities for Canberra businesses based around our international engagement strategy and we will work to boost our capabilities in defence, cyber security and the space technology industry to further diversify the territory’s economy.

Significant road infrastructure projects, such as the duplication of Cotter Road, will be completed and we will focus our efforts on making housing more affordable for those who are struggling, including continuing the implementation of tax reform, particularly the cutting of stamp duty, as recommended in the Productivity Commission report released today by federal Treasurer, Scott Morrison.

The government is focused on what Canberrans value most and what they want from their city. We are now a city which is home to more than 409,000 people and, on the current rate of population growth, we will exceed 425,000 people by 2020. Now is the time to shape our city as we grow so that we remain one of the most livable cities in the world.

Canberrans have demonstrated over the last five elections that they want a progressive government and in 2016 they endorsed my government’s plan to make the Canberra we love even better, and that is exactly what we are delivering in this place now. I present a copy of the following statement:

Delivering the better Canberra we promised—Ministerial statement, 24 October 2017.

I move:

That the Assembly take note of the paper.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Government achievements 2017

Ministerial statement

MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Women and Minister for Sport and Recreation) (3.42): In December last year I outlined some of


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