Page 334 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 9 February 2021
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Canberra is the nation’s Knowledge Capital, and the government recognises that one of the best investments we can make, for both our economy and our community, is in early childhood education and care.
That is why we are increasing the number of weeks offered to priority families accessing early childhood learning for three-year-olds, from 40 to 48 weeks per year. I commend the work of the Deputy Chief Minister in leading this initiative.
We are catering to population growth in our new regions by commencing works in preparation for a new high school in Taylor, to deliver an 800-place school by 2024. We will expand the Margaret Hendry School and deliver a new high school in east Gungahlin to open for the 2023 school year.
The government will fund 50 full-time Master of Education (Teacher Librarian) scholarships over the next five years.
One of the major achievements in the last term of government was the very successful rollout of Chromebooks, ensuring that every high school and college student had equality of digital access.
We will continue this important rollout as students enter high school and college every year.
We will begin rolling out the Digital Education Equity program to provide free internet to households that need it, to ensure that students continue to have access to the resources they need.
Transport investment for our city’s future
The government is focused on building the major infrastructure that our growing city needs.
Light rail stage 1 was successfully delivered, and we will build on that success.
This budget funds the design work and planning approvals for the raising of London Circuit and the next step in the extension of light rail.
Federal environmental approval for the next stage of our city-wide light rail network is welcomed, and a recognition of the importance of this project to the future shape of the nation’s capital.
Alongside this city-defining project, the government is working closely with the commonwealth to deliver a range of infrastructure improvements, including major road and cycleway improvements. This includes the construction of the John Gorton Drive extension, including a major bridge across the Molonglo River, continued work on upgrades of the Monaro Highway, and identifying future improvements to Canberra’s south-western transport corridor.
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