Page 103 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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winter and spring. It is important that we celebrate. It is also important that we have appropriate things that we celebrate by and it certainly is a diverse program that Robyn Archer and her team have put together.
But I want to ask some questions about what happens after the centenary. Let me start by simply saying that all on this side of the chamber wish all of those who participate well. We wish the organisers well—that the things come together, that they get good weather for the right events and that we truly do have a national celebration of the country’s capital next year. There is certainly a full program. If you cannot find something to appease your wishes in the first half of the year, you would be pretty fussy and pretty hard to please, I suspect.
If people have not gone to it, on the website for Canberra 100 there is a section called “Vision and Goals” and I think it is important that we remember why we are doing this. Is it just a party for the locals to celebrate or is it actually a national celebration? It should truly be a national celebration. Under “Vision” it says:
All Australians proudly celebrate and share in the Centenary of Canberra, our nation’s capital—the city that tells the story of our country’s freedom, spirit, achievement and aspirations.
So the question is—and I am sure the Chief Minister will speak after me—how are we going to make sure that that vision is fulfilled?
A number of goals then complement the vision and the first goal is:
Increase the pride and ownership of Australians in their capital.
I do not think any of us would disagree that that needs to occur. The second goal is:
Fully engage the community of Canberra, the Capital region and the broader Australian community in the celebrations.
So the question again has to be asked: how do we achieve that goal and how do we measure it? The third is:
Establish enduring international recognition of Canberra and its role as the capital.
Again, what measure have we got in place to determine whether we have achieved that? The fourth is:
Build the positive image and reputation of Canberra as a city and community.
That is certainly a worthy goal and something that we all should be working towards, but again the question is: how do we measure that? The fifth is:
Build lasting legacies of community through memorable celebrations—
they are certainly well outlined in the documents I have seen—
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