Page 3375 - Week 11 - Thursday, 11 November 2021
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The night-time economy in Canberra is a core part of our economic turnover, making up a higher than average proportion of establishments, at 5.9 per cent, versus 4.7 cent nationally, and a higher than average proportion of sales—5.2 per cent, versus 3.3 per cent nationally—and a higher proportion of employment, with a whopping 13 per cent, versus 7.2 per cent nationally. Throughout the pandemic the government has provided a range of supports to businesses and artists. Now that we are in the recovery phase, it is a perfect time for us to be thinking creatively and strategically about how we can build a healthy economy that supports jobs and builds community.
As we socially and economically begin to recover from this lockdown, people’s safe and comfortable use of public spaces—including bars, music venues, nightclubs and restaurants—at night is an important way of getting money flowing through our businesses and building back our community. The focus of the motion from Ms Castley, and these amendments, is on modes of transport that make it easy for people to get into and safely out of our town centres. The ACT Greens are strong supporters of public transportation and creative urban planning that allows people to live, work and play within a reasonable distance of each other.
Earlier this year, the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors commissioned a report into the Australian night-time economy. The section on Canberra sets a really positive tone for our emergence from the pandemic. The researcher behind this report praised the ACT government for its emphasis on urban infill and the impact of this planning principle on our thriving night-time economy. They put it simply that:
Over recent years a proliferation of new residential development along the city corridor and inner south has increased inner city living options with a flow on effect for both hospitality and tourism venues in this area.
You can only imagine my surprise that Ms Castley’s motion speaks to the night-time economy when the advice from the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors seems to stand in stark contrast to the planning and urban sprawl policies advocated by the Canberra Liberals in this place just yesterday. Our city was designed with our town centres in mind, and I am a big supporter of ensuring that the investment the government makes into renewing and enlivening our night-time economy can be seen right across our town centres.
Investing in public transport, which makes it easy to move between these areas, is something the ACT Greens have been campaigning for, and now implementing in government, for several years. We want to make it easier for people to use public transport. Anything we can do to encourage public transport uptake is worthy of exploring. I was really struck by Ms Castley’s suggestion that we could trial making public transport free at night time. I, too, am a strong supporter of free public amenities, and I will be interested in continuing this discussion, not only as a way of supporting our businesses and night-time economy but as a way of encouraging the use of public transport by the general public at all times and, most importantly, supporting low or no-income people to have equitable access to public services and public spaces.
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