Page 2463 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 13 August 2014
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MS GALLAGHER: Again, across government, I would have to come back to you, but certainly in Health, where we were, and are, accredited as a breastfeeding-friendly organisation, there was a lot of consultation with staff, consultation with unions and consultation with the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, what are the benefits of these policies within the ACT public service?
Mrs Jones: Babies get breastfed, Dr Bourke.
MS GALLAGHER: I think it is twofold. Yes, Mrs Jones is right. The babies get fed, which always leads to a much happier baby. But the other is that women and their partners feel that they are supported by their employer. So we have always felt that it is very important to lead the way. That is why we have 18 weeks paid maternity leave. We have generous paternity leave. We have generous carers and personal leave to ensure that people are able to manage their families, their caring responsibilities and have a job at the same time.
I think that when you do not get that balance right, you do not see the retention rates in your directorates that you want to see and people will go elsewhere. So it is very important and I think the benefits in terms of productivity and loyalty will far outstrip any of the time taken to support women to look after their babies when they return to work.
Budget—tourism
DR BOURKE: My question is to the Minister for Economic Development. Minister, could you inform the Assembly of the initiatives in the 2014-15 budget to support the tourism and events sector of the ACT economy?
Mr Coe: The location of which services by the train?
MR BARR: I thank Dr Bourke for the question and Mr Coe for his obvious interest in this area. In 2015 Canberra will host two of the biggest sporting events in the world, the Asian Cup football tournament, which runs from 9 to 31 January, and the ICC Cricket World Cup, which runs from 14 February to 29 March. Canberra hosts seven matches as part of the Asian Cup, including a quarter final, and three matches as part of the Cricket World Cup.
The ACT government has contributed funding in this budget and in previous budgets towards host city rights for these events. Canberra’s involvement in these global events provides a unique opportunity to raise the profile of the city, along with further opportunity to cement our status as a major events destination and, indeed, a place for new investment. The events will encourage and enhance community engagement, particularly strengthening links with a large number of multicultural and business groups within and outside the territory.
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