Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 80 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

We will complete further work to understand our community's profile, to better inform the social plan and provide a strong evidence base for its development. A study of our young people will be released by the end of the year and work on the profile of our multicultural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will be finished by mid-2002.

My government's commitment to support women in the choices they want to make in their lives is manifest in our comprehensive agenda for women. Management arrangements within my department have been revised so that the Office for Women can report to me directly on a regular basis. The office will have an enhanced role in commenting on policies across government and reviewing appointments to boards and committees.

Violence and community safety are, unfortunately, major issues for many women in our community. The Office for Women is commencing the development of a strategic framework that will assist agencies working in these areas to approach the planning and targeting of programs in a more coordinated fashion, leading to comprehensive and effective outcomes for women.

The government also expect to work closely with a ministerial advisory council on women in progressing its agenda. The council will be a key partner in developing the linkage and networks to support women across the ACT. We have also proposed the establishment of an Assembly select committee to work with the community to conduct an audit of the effectiveness of existing activities and to address future priorities and provide advice on performance measures on issues affecting women. That committee was formed this morning.

My government is committed to meeting the needs of older Canberrans. We have clearly indicated our intention to develop a plan to provide for the needs of older Canberrans. We will be addressing a range of issues across government, including older people's housing and accommodation, health, concessions and employment needs, and older people's access to the information society. This work will be done in consultation with older people and we aim to establish a ministerial advisory council for older people by March 2002 to facilitate this process. The council will help advance our broad agenda for older people.

The government is determined that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will have the opportunity to decide the priorities and directions for their own lives. The government has a comprehensive plan to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and my ministerial colleagues will be discussing their priorities over the coming months. My priorities are to make real progress in the areas of health, the justice system and creating life opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I intend to make a separate statement on my government's commitment to indigenous affairs later in this sitting of the Assembly.

My government is committed to building a vibrant, inclusive community and giving all people in the ACT the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives. To this end, the government has started developing a community relations program to enable multicultural groups to

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .