Page 3598 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 19 October 1993
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That is something we already seem to be working towards. Madam Speaker, on page 21 these words appear:
Now affirmative action is itself unnecessary.
I think that that in itself is such a positive statement. There are people who object to affirmative action just because of the nature of the beast, if you like. To me, affirmative action is very positive, provided it has a limited time and it is there to resolve specific problems. Madam Speaker, I think the notion that gender equity and racial equity are just part and parcel of the way we live indicates a very positive attitude to the future, and that is what comes through this document again and again. It has such a positive attitude to the future. (Extension of time granted) Thank you, members. It seems to me that one of the things that are needed in our community at the moment is a positive sense for the future. Certainly, we see indications of this happening around us.
One of the indications that I would like to draw attention to now is dealt with on page 21 under the heading "Developing our art and culture". It is said that Canberra has an autumn festival, the eisteddfod, a musicfest, an art biennial and things like that, and it is a positive time for us, Madam Speaker. Effectively, we have something like that operating right now in Canberra. I realise that it is not autumn, but the art festival that Ms Ellis opened on behalf of the Chief Minister last Friday night is a very exciting thing for Canberra. It seems to me that it adds to the positive tone of what is going on in Canberra at the moment.
Madam Speaker, under the heading "Building Economic Sustainability" as part and parcel of the vision, on page 33 is set out a whole series of things that we are making and doing, such as education services, learning technologies, ecotourism, solar electric and solar hydrogen systems, electronic design techniques, printed circuit boards, electro-optical systems. Once again, we have the same thing - a very positive vision of the future. That is what, it seems to me, comes most clearly through both the document of the Reference Group and the document from the Government entitled "Choosing Our Future : Canberra in the Year 2020".
Madam Speaker, these documents provide us with a potential for such a positive attitude to where we are going, a positive attitude to an Assembly and a community that is working together, with some clear goals in mind. I think it would be a great shame, Madam Speaker - and I echo some statements made by members - if it were left now to gather dust. One of the things that I wish to do is to talk to members outside this chamber about ways we can ensure that these documents do not just collect dust but become much more part and parcel of our thinking and much more part and parcel of ensuring that the community and this Assembly are working towards, wherever we can, an agreed vision for the future. Madam Speaker, after those few words I would like to congratulate the Government for the excellent job they have done on this particular vision. I look forward to seeing more work on it in the future.
Debate (on motion by Ms Szuty) adjourned.
Sitting suspended from 4.58 to 8.00 pm
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