Page 5107 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
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Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: Clearly, my generosity of spirit has been so well received by those opposite; I should try this tactic in question time more often, Madam Speaker.
Mrs Jones: We welcome your niceness anytime.
MR BARR: I welcome those very kind interjections from the opposition. Clearly, every minister has been very busy through this year, and particularly in this final sitting week. I particularly want to acknowledge the breadth of new legislation that was introduced this morning that will clearly see a very busy first quarter of 2019 for this place. It does, of course, stand in marked contrast to the lack of busyness that we see in another parliamentary chamber elsewhere in this city. (Time expired.)
MS CHEYNE: Chief Minister, how else has the government progressed its positive and progressive agenda for Canberra through the Legislative Assembly this year?
MR BARR: Thank you. It certainly is an excellent question; thank you very much for raising it. The legislation that we have brought forward this year clearly demonstrates the government’s values and priorities. In 2018, this Assembly has dealt with more than 40 pieces of legislation, including to protect and promote the highest ethical standards in our labour market and to ensure that more local jobs are good, well-paid ones, through the secure local jobs package.
We sought to reduce problem gambling harm and provide a pathway to reduce the number of gaming machines in the territory from 5,000 to 4,000 by 2020. We sought to better protect vulnerable renters through improvements to the Residential Tenancies Act; to improve work health and safety standards for construction workers; and to ensure safety and accessibility for the light rail network, in readiness for stage 1, commencing early in 2019. Importantly, we sought to expand the reportable conduct scheme to ensure that our community takes collective responsibility for keeping children safe. We have given ACT Policing increased powers to target bikie gangs. And we have levelled the playing field for first home buyers by placing a foreign investor surcharge on property purchases.
I particularly want to acknowledge, on this final sitting day, the hard work of ACT public servants and staff, who have done the important policy work that has helped shape this legislative program, and the staff who have engaged with the community and stakeholders to ensure that these reforms are effective.
MS ORR: Chief Minister, what progress has the government made against the parliamentary agreement this year in the Assembly and more broadly?
MR BARR: The government places a very high priority on delivering our parliamentary agreement items because they represent a shared reform vision to make a difference for vulnerable Canberrans and the wider community.
During this year we have made very strong progress against the parliamentary agreement, and next week Minister Rattenbury and I will release an update on our
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