Page 4969 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 28 November 2018

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MusicACT launched the new program at Smith’s Alternative on 24 October to a packed audience, and the government is committed to supporting Canberra’s live music sector to enliven our city and support the night-time economy.

ArtsACT has awarded a contract to Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre for capacity building services to ACT arts organisations to increase their skills and knowledge in governance, strategic planning, risk management, sponsorship and marketing. The service will assist to build capacity, sustainability and professionalism in ACT arts organisation, and that will commence shortly.

MS CHEYNE: Can the minister update the Assembly on the recent board and council appointments?

MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Cheyne for the supplementary question. Earlier this month I was delighted to announce the formation of the Minister’s Creative Council and appoint its inaugural 11 members. The role of the council will be to advise the ACT government on arts and cultural sector issues to inform future policy development. The purpose and the nature of the council were determined after extensive sector consultation and it has been very warmly welcomed by the arts community.

There were 87 high calibre applications. The successful people on this council now bring to the table strong connections to the arts community, as well as collective diverse arts practice. The members of the council have among them experience in visual arts, music, dance, theatre and performing arts, literature, film, festival curation, the media, arts administration, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultures, and social inclusion, including working with seniors, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and people with a disability.

The council’s combined diverse experience and ties will deliver great outcomes for Canberra’s arts sector. The first meeting of the council will be before the end of this calendar year. I look forward to meeting with them. I also recently announced a number of new appointments to the board of the Cultural Facilities Corporation, including a former Supreme Court judge, a former director of the British Council Australia, a former Queensland MP and the new chair of the creative council.

This esteemed group of people will be very well placed to help steer the CFC through the next exciting phase of consideration of a new theatre for Canberra and the revitalisation of the Civic Square cultural precinct.

Canberra Hospital—asbestos

MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Yesterday, Minister, you told the Assembly, “I was advised about asbestos removal works in July 2017 in ward 11A. It was being refurbished at the time.” Minister, has the refurbishment of ward 11A been completed? If not, when will it be completed?


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