Page 4090 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 December 2021
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review recommends that project board members be skilled in understanding and identifying the importance of seeking this verification so that it is undertaken.
Overall, I am pleased to advise the Assembly that, as assessed by the independent evaluation and review conducted by David Butler Consulting, the ChooseCBR program was successful in achieving its aim as a business stimulus program. That some $7 million was spent in redeemed vouchers in the trial and full rollout across some 800 Canberra businesses demonstrates that this scheme was effective in providing a significant boost to local businesses.
As I have said previously, this was a one-off scheme, the first of its kind in the ACT. It was a bold initiative. The rollout was not smooth; we recognise and accept that, and fully accept the recommendations in the review. But the scheme did achieve its aim in stimulating spending with local businesses and supporting them through a difficult time.
Again, I thank the many Canberra businesses and customers who took part in the scheme and especially the people who worked behind the scenes to deliver it.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Community language schools review—government response
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Manager of Government Business, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (3.34): Pursuant to standing order 211, I move:
That the Assembly take note of the following papers:
ACT Community Language Schools—Independent Review of the Investment—
Report [in response to the resolution of the Assembly of 4 August 2021].
Government response.
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra—Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Minister for Human Rights and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (3.34): The ACT government is committed to recognising, valuing and strengthening Canberra’s cultural and linguistic diversity. The 2016 census data shows that more than one in five people living in Canberra speak a language other than English at home.
As we all know, language skills are incredibly important for preserving and celebrating cultural identity and heritage, and can be crucial for communicating with friends and family. Since 2012, the ACT government has provided annual funding to the ACT Community Language Schools Association to administer annual grants to over 40 community language schools across the ACT.
Many of the languages taught by community language schools are not taught in mainstream schools, highlighting the critical role these schools play in the delivery of
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