Page 1495 - Week 06 - Thursday, 2 July 2020
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MS BERRY: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. Yes, that was the case; there were some cameras installed. They were not operational and there had not been appropriate consultation with public housing tenants, so they were removed until that consultation could occur.
MR COE: Minister, what did you know about the CCTV cameras prior to their installation, and who signed off on their installation prior to it taking place?
MS BERRY: I was not aware of the cameras being installed until I became aware through media and questions.
MR WALL: Minister, to what extent has the ACT taxpayer had to foot the bill for this bungle?
MS BERRY: I will take that question on notice. I am not aware of the actual figure, but I will take that on notice and bring the amount back to the Assembly.
Employment—COVID-19
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Chief Minister and relates to additional employment due to the COVID-19 stimulus programs. Minister, given that we know that more women than men are losing jobs due to COVID, how are you targeting women in the Jobs for Canberrans fund and the rollout of screwdriver-ready projects, and any other COVID-related stimulus programs?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. The data is showing that young people and women are being impacted somewhat more than men, although everyone is being impacted, in terms of the labour market, by the pandemic. We are finding that a combination of the easing of restrictions, together with the range of targeted programs that government has put in place and the support of federal government programs, is assisting in recovering some of those jobs, but there is still a way to go.
Specifically, the ACT government has focused, through the Jobs for Canberrans program, on a range of measures that are within both the small-scale infrastructure space and also public sector employment—for example, in areas like Access Canberra. The eligibility for the Jobs for Canberrans program has been structured in a way that specifically seeks to target those who lost employment due to the pandemic and who are not eligible for a range of other ACT or commonwealth government programs. That particular emphasis of the Jobs for Canberrans program has assisted many young people and women into employment across a variety of different ACT government directorates.
Clearly, though, the best way to recover more jobs would be through the ongoing public health response and the success of that, allowing for the easing of restrictions across a number of industry sectors that will see employment begin to recover. The early signs of that are evident in the ACT economy, but of course we need to be cautious in our easing of restrictions so as not to find ourselves in the position that Victoria is in. (Time expired.)
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