Page 4711 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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Work has begun on the $124 million facelift to the Belconnen town centre, in partnership with Westfield Belconnen, a project that will deliver a new bus interchange to replace the 1970s concrete and plastic interchange that has just been decommissioned.
Development of a sustainable transport action plan has begun. Separate strategies on public transport, cycling and walking, parking and transport infrastructure are being developed.
When Labor formally assumed the reins of government on 5 November last year, no-one anticipated the alarm bells that would soon be sounding worldwide as the GFC rolled inexorably in with every tide. Over the first year of this term an unprecedented level of local activity has been generated by the commonwealth’s $350 million investment in Canberra infrastructure as part of its various stimulus programs. The ACT government’s delivery of this massive investment is in the middle of the schedule.
Work is afoot in every school under the building the education revolution program. In the area of social housing, 352 new dwellings have been funded; stage 1 is underway, with 33 of 57 properties now under construction. Under the heading of regional, local and community infrastructure, an upgrade of Glebe Park and a major new skate park at Eddison Park are complete.
Only a fraction of the work of government takes place in the parliament, and only a fraction of that fraction involves passing laws. But it is an important role even if it does not always attract attention. In the past 12 months in the Legislative Assembly the definition of murder has been strengthened, penalties for illegal dumping have been increased and new powers have been created to allow the seizure of vehicles involved in illegal dumping. Amendments to unit title laws have been introduced, including publication of a Unit titles dispute resolution guide and a Guide to the new obligations of owners corporation managers.
Legislation has been passed in relation to conclusive certificates under freedom of information laws. A security of payments bill for the building and construction industry has been introduced. The bill, strongly supported by both employer and employee organisations, will protect subcontractors and ensure they are paid. The Work Safety Act 2008 commenced operation this year. The act is the most advanced occupational health and safety legislation in Australia and leaves the ACT as the best positioned jurisdiction to make the leap to nationally harmonised OH&S laws in 2012. A bill passed in August 2009 established the framework for portable long service leave in the territory.
These are good laws to make us a safer community and a better city.
I have given just a modest listing of some of the work undertaken by Labor on behalf of the Canberra community over the past 12 months, the first year of this term. I have not spoken of things that are business as usual, but of new things—innovations, ideas acted on, dreams delivered and challenges met. I present the following paper:
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