Page 1501 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 18 May 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
videos and brochures have been distributed to industry. The head of the Economic Development Division in my department last week made a well-received presentation on the program to some 60 representatives of the commercial chapter of the Real Estate Institute of Australia. It is these members of the business community who are vital to selling the Canberra message.
Madam Speaker, the ACT Government is also co-sponsoring a major seminar series - "Canberra: The Face of the Nation?". This is contributing to wider community debate about the nation's capital, and aims to counter the preconception that Canberra is the home of the Federal Government and nothing else. It features addresses by prominent Australians providing their own perspectives on our city and its role in Australia. The first two addresses have been delivered by Mr Kerry Stokes, who is well known to Canberrans through his media interests here, and Ms Susan Oliver, executive director of Australia's Commission for the Future. The Governor-General, Mr Bill Hayden, will be making the next address in the series in Brisbane next month. Madam Speaker, I will be pleased to give the final address in the series, in August of this year, as well as opening the major conference in September to conclude the series. These seminars are related closely to the Canberra in the Year 2020 study that the Government is undertaking. As members are aware, that study, through a process of public consultation, is to identify the sort of city that we as a community want Canberra to be by the year 2020.
Madam Speaker, the Government is taking advantage of every opportunity to continue to promote Canberra as a vibrant and dynamic regional centre with enormous potential for the private sector, but the Government is, of course, doing more than just talking about what Canberra can offer the private sector. We have taken a number of practical steps to improve the business environment, both through providing services and through working with the private sector to identify business opportunities. Madam Speaker, the business licence information system is a case in point. In the year that it has been operating, over 1,800 inquiries have been received. Its high acceptance demonstrates the value of the service it is providing to Canberra's business community. We have reached agreement with the Federal Government to incorporate its licensing requirements into our information system. This information, which is now on line, offers an even better service to ACT industry.
Madam Speaker, the Government has established the ACT Supply and Tender Agency to assist local businesses to take full advantage of opportunities to competitively supply goods and services to the Government. The agency notifies potential suppliers of forthcoming government contracts, providing information about project specifications and identifying departmental contact officers who are able to provide further assistance. Through the National Industry Extension Service, the Government has assisted over 60 ACT companies in areas such as business planning, strategic planning and quality assurance. This assistance is aimed at making ACT businesses more internationally competitive, with resulting benefits for the nation in improving our export performance and reducing our reliance on imports.
Madam Speaker, the Assembly has passed government legislation for the mutual recognition by all States and Territories of each other's differing regulatory standards for goods and occupations. This is a significant reform, as it removes restrictions on the mobility of goods and labour throughout Australia, with obvious benefits to business in the ACT.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .