Page 2368 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
investing in a dedicated team to improve our adoption processes. As a progressive government we will continue to support Canberra to become even more inclusive, progressive and connected.
We are well positioned to invest in strengthening our community and building a better Canberra because of our strong economic management. Our unemployment rate is the lowest in the country. Thousands of new jobs are being created each year and our economy continues to diversify, attracting new workers in industries that will help Canberra over the longer term.
The budget the government handed down in June is in balance this year and across the forward estimates. That means we can meet the city’s needs today whilst investing for Canberra’s growth into the future. This includes meeting needs like new and expanded hospital facilities and more walk-in centres, a more connected and efficient transport network, the delivery of the light rail network and boosting the equality of educational opportunity for young Canberrans.
The Assembly will consider a range of important pieces of legislation during the second half of this year to continue making Canberra more inclusive, more progressive and more connected. An inclusive community supports each other. Whether it is protecting our children from institutional child abuse or limiting the harm of gaming machines, the government will strengthen our support for Canberrans.
We have been strong and decisive in our commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. We want to change the status quo to effect cultural change within organisations and to ensure that the failures of the past cannot continue. During the spring sitting period, across two bills, the government will move to implement the recommendations to protect Canberra’s children.
Inclusive communities stand up for those who need help the most. The government will ensure that Canberrans involved in motor vehicle accidents get the care and support that they need. We have undertaken a significant community consultation process to design reforms to the ACT’s compulsory third-party insurance scheme. The citizens jury has given its verdict and, as promised, the government will seek to implement its decision by introducing legislation on CTP reform by the end of this year.
We will also help people to be included in society through improving the effectiveness of the ACT restorative justice scheme and responding to the recommendations of the legislative review of the working with vulnerable people scheme, taking into account the royal commission’s recommendations and the implementation of nationally consistent worker registration arrangements for the national disability insurance scheme.
Progressive communities think differently. They challenge received wisdom and face new challenges with optimism and with goodwill. During this spring’s sittings the progressive government that Canberrans voted for will continue to lead the nation through a series of major reforms.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video