Page 32 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 7 December 2004
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In favouring the fostering of an entrepreneurial spirit, I am not one who is at all enthusiastic about governments embarking on the world of commerce. Whilst there are noted examples of where governments have succeeded in the commercial world, the path of government at all levels throughout Australia is littered with examples where noted failure has occurred when government has strayed into commercial endeavour and often failed dismally, leaving great expense to taxpayers or ratepayers respectively. These experiences have afflicted governments of all political persuasions.
Our cultural assets will also be important in any plan to re-invigorate the perception of Canberra. I endorse the sentiments recently expressed by Dr Brian Kennedy when he called for Canberra to become a livelier place and to inject more life into our capital.
Mr Speaker, whenever I am interstate and come across a person visiting Australia I always ask them if they plan to visit Canberra or if they have visited our capital. Invariably the answer is in the negative and when you inquire as to why, you are usually given the response, “I’ve heard it’s a dull place.” The fact is, most of us would not stay here if it were so dull, but most Canberrans will acknowledge that that is the external perception held by many.
A host of economic advantages would flow to this territory if we could succeed in changing this perception. Clearly our tourism people are in the front line of this task but the effort should not end there. It falls to all in government and, indeed, all in this Assembly to assist in such challenges if economic benefits can flow to the broader community. It would be easier to attract skilled workers both domestically and internationally to this city in all sectors if we were to make progress in this regard.
There are many areas of public policy in which I hold an interest. I have been honoured with a range of important shadow portfolios and I shall be looking forward to furthering my interest and views and those of my party and those who support us as we discuss initiatives in these policy areas.
Above all, however, I hope to increase public interest in the Legislative Assembly of the ACT. This will enhance accountability if I am successful and may lead to greater scrutiny of the decisions of government by our media, notwithstanding the limited resources being applied to political analysis, especially by the television networks.
During the course of the election campaign I distributed 25,000 forms inviting electors to advise me of their concerns. I was overwhelmed by the response. For a non-elected person to receive such a massive amount of casework told me that many people in Canberra do not feel engaged with our important work here in the Assembly. It will be one of my goals during the course of this term to aim to make the work of this Assembly much more relevant to my electors and to ensure they develop a greater sense of ownership and participation in those processes.
Mr Speaker and members, I look forward to carrying out the important responsibility given to me by the electors of Molonglo. I thank members for the courtesies extended to me.
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