Page 81 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 December 2008
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deliberations. Yet other aspects are in line with processes already begun last term to overhaul the government’s community consultation procedures, to take advantage of new technologies and also to reflect new thinking about citizen-centred governance.
The ACT is a prosperous, liveable, compassionate city that has led the nation in a number of policy debates and that is now poised to lead again as the government redoubles its efforts to create an even more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable city.
This agreement accords with those aspirations and is a sign that Labor and the Greens are prepared to work together, wherever possible, to make government more responsive than ever to the community that every one of us in this chamber is pledged to serve. I look forward to working well and energetically not just with the Greens but with every elected member of this place and with the people who have put us here to make this city a model for others to follow.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens), by leave: The agreement tabled today by the Chief Minister is the framework for a new way of doing things in the Assembly. The ACT Greens’ first responsibility as members of the ACT Legislative Assembly is to the people of Canberra. We gave a commitment before the election to a stable and accountable government for the ACT. Indeed, one of the key themes of our campaign was to provide some third party insurance in this Assembly.
As part of the agreement tabled today we supported Jon Stanhope as Chief Minister, and the Labor Party has agreed to a parliamentary reform agenda which will establish the ACT Assembly as a world leader in scrutinising and opening up the processes of government and taking a more collaborative and inclusive approach to the processes of parliament.
We also articulated very strongly in the campaign that real action is needed on climate change and on social equity. The ALP-Greens agreement is also based on a commitment to deliver a responsible and sustainable program of actions to help us face up to the twin challenge of climate change and social inequality.
With just one or two MLAs in past Assemblies the Greens have led the way with legislation, ranging from protecting public participation in decision making to energy efficiency ratings for houses. We have conducted significant and policy-shaping inquiries into children at risk, services for people with disability and maternity services and we have ensured that the government signed on to the UN charter for responsible investment.
Our capacity in this new Assembly to progress reform, to pass legislation, to draw in community and expert evidence and to hold the government to account from the cross bench will be substantially enhanced. With this new reform agenda in place I am confident that we will also be better informed and resourced to investigate and shape future policy.
Working with our Labor colleagues and their staff, we have already started the ball rolling on some of the changes in the agreement. Standing orders have been updated
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