Page 3436 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 22 October 2014
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I would like to share some recent findings that I think provide an excellent insight into the thoughts of this next generation. In developing an ACT government commitment for children and young people, with the aim of developing a whole-of-government vision and a whole-of-community approach to the rights of children and young people in our city, children and young people have told us that Canberra is a great place to live. In seeking the views of our younger people, we have heard them talk about Canberra, that they love to live here for reasons such as it provides great open spaces, green reserves and playgrounds and that Canberra has lots of cool things like Lake Burley Griffin, Telstra Tower, and Questacon. Children and young people have also told us that they feel safe here and that they have access to good schools.
These views are also supported by the data that we have about children and young people in Canberra, and I am pleased to be able to report that the Picture of ACT’s children and young people 2014 publication, due to be released today, provides us with a rich source of information confirming that children and young people in our city are faring well. The development of this commitment shows that Canberra is a city that is serious about providing a community that supports all of our members to reach their potential and also to make a contribution to and share the benefits of our community. While the commitment focuses on children and young people, it recognises the vital role that family and community play in the promotion of children and young people’s rights and in the provision of a positive, caring environment.
It is these things which make our city a great place to raise our children and our next generation. While I know that our city is already a great place to raise children, having lived here all my life and raised my own family here, there is always more to do. The recent opening of the boundless Canberra playground is a good example of things that we can do to make our city even better for families. Boundless was made possible by widespread support from the public and private sectors, community groups, school students and individuals and is an excellent demonstration of what can be achieved by working together to ensure Canberra remains the world’s most livable city.
Canberra is also an age-friendly city, and you heard me talk yesterday about the older persons assembly we held here. Our strategic plan for positive ageing, together with our positive ageing action plan, provides a framework for social inclusion. The plans support positive ageing initiatives where older people are respected, valued and supported to actively participate in our community.
Canberra is indeed the world’s most livable city and, as I have shown, this government has got its foot firmly on the accelerator to ensure it remains so.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra) (11.46): I am very happy to speak on this motion today, and I thank Dr Bourke for bringing it to the Assembly. Like Mr Rattenbury, I too thought Mr Hanson was talking about another city when he got up to speak earlier. I had to check with the motion to see I was speaking on the correct thing. The motion notes that the ACT has been ranked number one in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s regional wellbeing report 2014, which followed the Property Council’s survey ranking Canberra as Australia’s most livable city. I must have blinked, because I missed the parts in Mr Hanson’s speech where he might have
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