Page 250 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 2018

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The government has set a goal to reduce recidivism by 25 per cent by 2025, and work on the development of a recidivism plan is underway. The plan will set a pathway for achieving recidivism targets. Reducing recidivism in the ACT requires shared responsibility across the justice and human service system. The government will work closely with justice stakeholders, the community sector and those with lived experience to develop the recidivism plan.

As minister for road safety, I am focused on making progress on our vision zero road safety goals. Vision zero means that no death is acceptable on our roads. This requires efforts from individual drivers, the community and the government. As vision zero accepts that people are fallible, it demands that government design a road transport system that accepts and accommodates mistakes. Across government there are a range of steps that can be taken to implement vision zero, from the way we design roads and intersections to the way we communicate with the travelling public. One of my goals is to strengthen this cross-government implementation. It is also my goal to have vision zero better understood and accepted by the public.

My second priority as minister for road safety is to improve safety for young drivers. Young drivers are over-represented in crash injury statistics, and the ACT is taking steps to improve its graduated drivers licence program. That is the program by which young drivers graduate from Ls to Ps to full licence. I will soon be releasing public information about changes we intend to make to our graduated driving system.

Lastly, I would like to mention my role as minister for consumer affairs. This portfolio involves a lot of important but behind the scenes work with Canberra consumers and businesses, as well as with other jurisdictions. My priority in this space is to ensure we have just consumer laws and safe consumer products, to empower the community not only to know their consumer rights but also to engage in thoughtful and sustainable consumption, and to work with my state and territory counterparts to progress these issues nationally.

It looks to be a busy year for all of my portfolios, with a number of very important reforms. There are certainly a number of challenges within some of these priorities. However, I am confident that progress in these areas will continue and that this government is working towards ensuring a sustainable and fair city—one that looks to improve support for vulnerable people. I look forward to working collaboratively with my ministerial colleagues to achieve these important reforms. I present the following paper:

Portfolio priorities 2018—Ministerial statement, 15 February 2018.

I move:

That the Assembly take note of the paper.

Question resolved in the affirmative.


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