Page 4746 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 October 2010

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MR RATTENBURY: I move the amendments circulated in my name:

(1) Insert new paragraph (1A):

“(1A) notes the Loxton report finding that there is potential for Brand Canberra to be developed based on:

(a) being the ‘National Capital’ as well as the ‘Cultural Capital’; and

(b) our clean environment, natural beauty and four seasons;”.

(2) Insert new paragraph (1B):

“(1B) notes:

(a) the current consultation process running until 5 November which is seeking public submissions on the Loxton report; and

(b) the Government’s commitment to a transparent consultation process by updating the Community Engagement website to make clear that all submissions made to the consultation will be available online;”.

(3) Omit paragraph (2), substitute:

“(2) calls on the ACT Government to set out by February 2011:

(a) what actions it will undertake to respond to the findings of the Loxton report;

(b) a plan for new attractions for the ACT; and

The first of the amendments, as I was just alluding to, inserts some of those opportunities identified in the Loxton report. As I say, I feel this offers completeness for the motion that Mr Smyth has put forward. The specific points in the Loxton report are that the Assembly notes the findings that there is potential for brand Canberra to be developed based on being the national capital as well as the cultural capital, and also our clean environment, natural beauty and four seasons.

I think these are all very good points. I do not think they particularly need to be stressed in this place because in some senses they are self-evident. Certainly, as I think I have said in this place before, my own experience of friends and relatives coming to Canberra is that they have a real sense of interest in the national capital, of this being a place of government and national institutions in Australia and I think, to some extent, a sense of ownership of this city as well. It sounds like an odd thing to say in some ways but many people are proud of this as our national capital in the same way that many Americans reflect positively on Washington DC.

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