Page 3445 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 22 October 2014
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The Chief Minister earlier this year announced a stimulus package that outlined a two-year support initiative for the building and construction industry. Further to this, the 2014-15 budget saw significant investment in transformative infrastructure projects. Both these initiatives will not only provide the Canberra community with quality facilities now and into the future but also help create jobs, both directly and indirectly
The report, as we know, looked at health. We know that people in the ACT continue to enjoy the highest life expectancy of any jurisdiction in Australia, and it is expected to increase slightly over the next 10 years, as the Chief Minister mentioned when she spoke, with life expectancy at birth of 85.1 years for females in the ACT against a national average of 84.3 years, and 81.2 years for males against a national average of 79.9 years. In recent years we have seen a significant investment in community health services with the opening of three new community health centres, including the new Belconnen Community Health Centre. Plans are underway for further health infrastructure in Belconnen, with the planned future north-side hospital, as Ms Berry mentioned. This means that Canberrans are now able to be provided with the best possible care when and where it is needed.
On previous occasions I have said that this Labor government recognises the diverse opportunities that quality education presents to our children and our young people. Over the years, we have endeavoured to ensure that all ACT children, notwithstanding their circumstances and notwithstanding how much their parents earn or their station in life, can have access to quality education facilities, and also quality teaching, so as to realise their potential. As you are aware, successive Labor budgets have included funding for initiatives that place focus on further improving students’ learning, school leadership, transparency and accountability. This has continued to advance our already good record which sees the ACT at the top in NAPLAN results, ranking first or equal first for grammar, punctuation and numeracy at all levels since 2009.
It is important to also note that our education sector is home to world-class research organisations such as the ANU, UC, NICTA, CSIRO, ADFA, Geoscience Australia and the John Curtin School of Medical Research. These institutions, as you know, raise the profile of Canberra as a study destination and help promote our city.
I do not have time to comment on all nine areas the report looked at but, as you can see, being named the most livable city in the world has been achieved through the vision of this Labor government and working with the community to develop good policies and programs. I join with Dr Bourke in calling on the government to continue its strong, balanced approach to investing in our people, our services and our economy.
Question put:
That Mr Hanson’s amendment be agreed to.
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