Page 1360 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 April 2019
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veterans, Indigenous affairs and multicultural affairs, what is the role of the Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. The portfolio has responsibilities in a number of different areas, but particularly from a whole-of-government perspective. One aspect of work that I have been particularly focused on in this area is the development not only of the social inclusion statement, as part of the annual budget papers—and there have been a number of those now that I would draw Ms Le Couteur’s attention to—but equally the work that we are undertaking in developing a series of new indicators—indicators of progress, community wellbeing and the like—associated with work that is underway in New Zealand, on which we are collaborating with the New Zealand government, and, indeed, with other Australian jurisdictions. In fact we will be looking at broadening our measure of community progress, of economic progress—beyond the more traditional means that are commonplace in public debate in this nation, things like gross domestic product, rates of economic growth and the various measures that are more commonly reported in terms of economics statistics—to include other measures within the purview of government responsibilities, and, where we can, provide a richer source of information on community wellbeing.
The portfolio also has specific responsibility in relation to social inclusion matters that are related to the ministerial advisory council on LGBTIQ affairs. I have responsibility for that matter, as well as for a number of other social inclusion priorities. I think it is important to have this whole-of-government perspective, and that is why the portfolio sits within my responsibilities.
MS LE COUTEUR: Chief Minister, can you tell us what the government uses as its definition of “social inclusion” and what its priority areas are?
MR BARR: I refer the member to the published statements and, indeed, the administrative orders.
MS CHEYNE: Chief Minister, are voluntary assisted dying and territory rights also a priority for you under these portfolio responsibilities?
MR BARR: Yes, these matters, of course, cross over multiple portfolios but certainly touch on questions of social inclusion and equality. I think it is important, in the context of the structure of the administrative arrangements and the government’s progressive agenda, to note that having social inclusion and equality at the forefront of our policy development and having specific programs and activities that are also supported under that portfolio, as are outlined in the administrative arrangements, reflects not only the importance of this area to the government but, indeed, to the majority of Canberrans who value social inclusion and equality very highly.
Schools—student insurance
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development: does the Education Directorate provide insurance cover for students who are injured or contract illnesses whilst at an ACT government school or on a
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