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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 02 Hansard (Wednesday, 3 March 2004) . . Page.. 617 ..

[This] is an unusual opportunity to work with a political leader whose highest priority is social policy.

2003 Australian of the Year, Fiona Stanley, said:

The idea of a one-stop shop with client focused delivery is pretty exciting. It means if parents come into the centre, everything is in the one place and things can be tailor-made.

Annette Wade, from ACT Shelter, said:

The public housing reforms are great ...

Harold from Campbell, a talkback caller on ABC radio, said:

The ACT Veterans’ Memorial—first class proposal.

And Mohammed Omari, the president of the Multicultural Council, said:

[The decision in the Social Plan to build a Multicultural Centre is] an historic and courageous announcement ... This is great news and a great day for the ACT multicultural community.

Mr Speaker, even the opposition leader has been relatively supportive. True, on the day of the launch he was heard to criticise the social plan for having targets. But then he must have remembered that he criticised the economic white paper for not having targets, even going so far as to propose as a matter of public importance on 9 December “The lack of goals and targets in the government’s Economic White Paper”.

Mr Speaker, Building Our Community: The Canberra Social Plan is a genuine attempt by this government to ensure that all Canberrans share our city’s good fortune over the coming decade and beyond. In fact, the Chief Minister made the point in his introductory remarks:

It is precisely because most of us are so fortunate that there is no excuse for ignoring those who are not.

I think that gets to the nub of what the social plan is trying to do.

The social plan establishes the following seven social priorities to be achieved over a 10 to 15-year timeframe:

• economic opportunity for all Canberrans;

• respect, diversity and human rights;

• a safe, strong and cohesive community;

• to improve health and wellbeing;

• to lead Australia in education, training and lifelong learning;

• housing for a future Canberra;

• and respect and protection for the environment.

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