Page 4701 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 7 December 1994
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ecotourism and government services and systems. Positive steps have been taken in both these areas. An ecotourism strategy is currently under preparation, with the aim of developing an ecotourism market in the ACT. In terms of government services, the creation of the separate ACT public service provides us with the capacity to create opportunities, without being tied to the Commonwealth.
In conclusion, I would like to refer to one last strategic initiative of key importance to the way our future develops. This is the draft community consultation protocol. I mentioned earlier that the Government alone cannot hope to achieve the preferred future described in the study; nor can any other single sector of the community. We have to work together. Community consultation is a key component of the strategies that I have outlined today. I am sure that the development of the consultation protocol will further enhance community participation in the government decision making. There are many further initiatives that I have not referred to today that will be equally important to our future. These are described in the progress report. Together, they indicate significant progress in the course of one year. Our challenge is to maintain the effort in the coming years and to build on the achievements of today. I am confident that the Government will provide the direction required. With cooperation and continued effort, we can achieve our preferred future. I commend the report to the Assembly.
MR CORNWELL (3.29): Obviously, as we have only just received this report, and we will be going into recess tomorrow evening, there is insufficient time for me to make a detailed response to the report. But I would like the Assembly to note that we will study the matter and perhaps come back with some comments in the next Assembly.
MS SZUTY (3.30): I welcome the Government's tabling of their first progress report of the Canberra in the year 2020 study. By its title, I take it that there will be many more progress reports to come to this Assembly from the Canberra in the year 2020 study. I note the very comprehensive response that Mr Wood tabled in this Assembly this afternoon, referring to a number of key strategic initiatives. Like Mr Cornwell, I have not had time this afternoon to go through them and study them in detail. But I welcome the fact that they have been presented in this report. It will be interesting to see whether one of the other recommendations of the reference group is taken up by a future government in this city, and that is the recommendation about the appointment of a Minister for long-term strategies. I have yet to hear the Chief Minister announce that there will be such a Minister for long-term strategies. I certainly look forward to there being such a Minister in the future.
MR MOORE (3.31): Having scanned the report, I would like to take this opportunity to make a couple of comments. First of all, the fact that we can get to this stage with a report does demonstrate that members on the cross benches certainly do have methods and ways of getting things under way and getting initiatives that governments respond to. It gives us a great deal of pleasure, since this was a cornerstone of our platform, to see the Government making a very sensible response to that and building on that idea in an effective way.
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