Page 3120 - Week 08 - Thursday, 16 August 2018

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MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (5.07): I will speak in three parts to each of the streams within the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate.

I will start with the Chief Minister’s portfolio, which, of course, plays a leading role in ensuring that our jurisdiction is at the forefront of progressive policy, has agile responses to policy challenges in a changing world, and ensures that a diverse workforce of around 26,000 Canberrans is prepared for the future of service delivery to our broader community.

This year’s budget continues to build on the capacity of the ACT government for innovation in public policy. We are investing more in the team that has a strong track record of delivery, from the implementation of ride-share regulation and smart city initiatives through to ensuring that our children are protected.

The ACT government believes in investing in better public policy through directly employed public servants whose only interest is the public good. Good public policy is the product of a variety of voices, and through the Chief Minister’s portfolio the government will be investing to ensure no-one is excluded from a career in the ACT public service.

We will deliver additional whole-of-government inclusion employment programs over the coming years. This includes the disability carer and retention program for up to 40 employees with a disability; mentor training for up to 50 employees to develop individuals with or without disability to mentor and support staff with disabilities; membership and additional staff development training, support and awareness sessions with the Australian Network on Disability and other local providers; and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander career development and retention program for up to 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

The ACT PS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership program is a new program which will provide up to 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees at the senior officer and executive levels with the opportunity to develop in their current leadership roles and to assist these employees to reach their full potential in the ACT public service.

There will be mentor training with specific cultural focus to provide training for up to 50 employees to develop individuals, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-identified, to mentor and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

There will be additional membership and increased staff development training and support and awareness sessions with Pride in Diversity and other local organisations.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the community’s preferences for how they engage with government are changing, and ways in which the community can engage with government are increasing exponentially. The ACT government is changing the way it communicates, through funding in this budget, to seek the views of more members


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