Page 2462 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020

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(1) In relation to the Minister's Creative Council, when will the analysis of the survey undertaken by the Council about the impacts of COVID-19 on the arts be complete.

(2) What have been the main themes emerging from the survey.

(3) Will the Minister be publishing the results.

(4) How many jobs have been lost in arts and recreation in the ACT since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Mr Ramsay: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The analysis for the survey undertaken by the Council about the impacts of COVID-19 on the arts is complete and has been published online in the form of a listening report:

https://www.arts.act.gov.au/community-participation/Ministers-creative-council

(2) See online as above.

(3) See online as above.

(4) The most recent ACT specific data from the ABS about jobs lost in the Arts and Recreation Services as an industry subgroup (per ABS definitions) is from May 2020. This data indicates that in May 2020 there are 3,244 people employed in this subgroup compared with 5,279 in May 2019. This equates to 2,035 less jobs during this period, representing 38.6%. Data from the February 2020 quarter to May 2020 quarter shows a loss of 159 jobs or a loss of 4.7%.

Municipal services—landscaping
(Question No 3292)

Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Planning and Land Management, upon notice, on 28 August 2020 (redirected to the Minister for City Services):

(1) As part of plans to landscape the Benjamin Way median strip, what investigations have been undertaken by the ACT Government in regards to underground pipelines.

(2) Will underground pipelines or other findings (can the Minister please describe) restrict the planting of trees on the median strip; if so, what alternative plans does the ACT Government have to beautify the median strip; if not, are there plans to plant trees along the median strip.

Mr Steel: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The ACT Government has sourced service plans that show the location of utilities that run through the Benjamin Way median strips.

(2) Yes, the presence of underground utilities will restrict the planting of trees across the northern medians within Benjamin Way. The ACT Government is investigating reseeding of dryland grass and planting of shrubs and groundcovers through this space.


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