Page 1445 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 June 2022
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At a local level, Canberrans have again shown their support for Labor candidates, with the re-election of Alicia Payne, Andrew Leigh and David Smith to the House of Representatives, with each receiving a primary and two-party preferred swing towards them. Katy Gallagher was comfortably returned to the Senate and, in a political first for the territories, independent David Pocock is poised to take the second ACT senate spot. The Canberra Liberals become the first major party in 50 years to fail to return a territory senator.
In the house, ACT Labor recorded a 45 per cent primary vote. I note—and I have made this point to the Prime Minister—that it is the highest Labor vote of all jurisdictions and, indeed, the strongest vote for any party in any state or territory across Australia. This result is due to hard work at both the federal and territory level to stand up for this city and to support this community.
The change of government, the election of a federal Labor government, is a significant opportunity for the ACT to achieve progress on a number of reforms and projects that had been blocked or stalled under the previous government. As Chief Minister, I intend to grasp these opportunities, and work has already started.
Since the election I have had the opportunity to engage with the Prime Minister, and subsequently outlined our commitments and joint priorities in writing. I have spoken with federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, finance minister Katy Gallagher, and energy and climate change minister Chris Bowen, and met yesterday with senator-elect Pocock. I look forward to continuing to engage with our federal counterparts to ensure that our city, our jurisdiction, is no longer relegated to an afterthought by the federal government.
The Australian Labor Party’s policy platform for a better future will improve the lives of all Australians. Particularly, its agenda will complement the ACT’s progressive legislative agenda and our commitments. Canberrans stand to gain greatly. This includes in areas such as strengthening Medicare, so that it is easier to see a doctor, and improving the aged-care sector to ensure that older Australians are treated with dignity and receive the care they need in the latter stages of their lives.
I have already conveyed to the Prime Minister the territory government’s strong support for his commitment to implement the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The ACT looks forward to working collaboratively with the commonwealth and its special envoy, Pat Dodson, to deliver this overdue recognition of, and voice for, Australia’s First Nations people.
Federal Labor’s platform also includes making child care cheaper, to take pressure off families, and to give parents, particularly women, more choice about their employment. We know that childcare costs are too often the main hurdle to preventing a return to work. This policy is not only good for families and for women; it is good for the broader economy.
Canberrans will clearly benefit from a federal government that does not hold the Australian public service in contempt—a government that will put a stop to inefficient
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