Page 16 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2016
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Minister Bourke will also drive the small business reforms set out in our business strategy “Confident and business ready: building on our strengths”, including the small business innovation partnership program, so that Canberra’s small businesses can compete with the world. Our two new ministers are joining a hardworking and experienced ministry which is absolutely committed to making Canberra even better, every day.
My ministry is focused on delivering what Canberrans need: a health system that delivers services when and where people need them; an education system that allows every child to reach their potential; business development that creates new jobs; a transport network that moves everyone around quick and easily; municipal services that keep our garden city clean and beautiful; community services that allow everyone to be valued and contributing members of our society; a 100 per cent renewable energy target that is showing the world how to transition into a renewable age; and; safety initiatives to reduce the trauma on our roads and drive down the cost of driving. That is what Canberrans want and that is what this ministry will continue to deliver in 2016.
I also want to acknowledge again the contribution as a minister of Joy Burch. The people of Canberra, particularly children and those living with a disability, were always her first consideration as a minister. Her significant achievements include the new Tuggeranong CIT campus, the successful delivery of the first stages of the NDIS here in the ACT, and establishing literacy and numeracy testing for our teachers as part of a teacher quality agenda.
In 2016 the government will bring forward a strong and focused legislative program through the year to help deliver our vision for Canberra. Over this fortnight we will debate legislation already before the Assembly to make our justice system fairer and more effective; to further strengthen our human rights protection framework; to protect workers’ rights; and to make our public sector more efficient and responsive to the community. The legislation we will bring forward in these sittings and throughout the year will put the needs of Canberrans first.
I have made it clear in this place before and I reiterate again today: we will not be introducing legislation for the sake of it. Our work here in developing and passing laws must be to make Canberra better. In this sitting period Minister Corbell will introduce legislation to create a new, fairer and more supportive scheme to assist victims of crime. Minister Fitzharris will fulfil an election commitment to create more smoke-free public spaces and events. Minister Rattenbury will bring forward practical legislative amendments at these sittings to make our city’s roads safer.
In future sitting weeks I will bring forward a comprehensive red tape reduction package that will further remove unnecessary costs and requirements on business, and make government more efficient. The focus of this red tape reduction package is on practical measures to let businesses strengthen their operations, to expand their services and to employ more people—not to waste time dealing with the bureaucracy. This will build on the great work of Access Canberra in bringing together customer service and regulatory agencies to make things easier, simpler and faster.
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