Page 87 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2016
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MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Multicultural and Youth Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (4.27): I welcome the opportunity to speak on an issue of great importance to people in my electorate in Belconnen, and particularly where I live, in west Belconnen.
The internet has changed the way that we live. Accessing fast, stable connections has seen the development of amazing technologies that have allowed us to come together in ways that we might never have imagined. My colleague Mary Porter spoke about the importance of access to our kids’ education, but it is also important for the social inclusion of many groups in our community.
As a sole parent, I know the ways that the internet is helping parents to stay connected with each other. When the kids are in bed by 9 pm, that is, my kids—on a good night—there is a spike in internet traffic of parents logging on. And they are doing all sorts of different things. Some are getting onto social media to chat about the day, to get advice or to vent with other parents about their latest parenting challenge. Some are pursuing a hobby or higher education. Some are accessing online counselling, checking their school calendar for the next day or just getting the shopping done.
Sadly, many parents in my own suburb of Dunlop do not get this opportunity. Like Mr Wall’s experience in Fadden, our nearest exchange is three to five kilometres away and there is an ageing network internet that gets patchy—or “laggy”, as described to me by my son—in times of peak demand.
While parents in the neighbouring suburb of new Macgregor, which has been connected to the NBN, are logging on to get support, clear the weekend shopping and learn new skills, too many parents in Dunlop, Holt and other areas of west Belconnen do not get that chance.
Hearing from Mr Wall today, we know that it is not just Dunlop and west Belconnen suburbs that are suffering. I know, from speaking to people all over Canberra, that internet connectivity is a problem, particularly in our established suburbs in Belconnen and Tuggeranong. These suburbs are places where connection is greatly needed. They are home to a large portion of our multicultural community who use the internet to access services in their home language and connect with their community around the globe.
For young people in Canberra’s suburbs, internet is an important connection as they start the process of defining their lives for themselves. With kids entering their teens, we are both daunted and excited by the thought of them exploring new ideas, questioning the world around them and considering careers and life options that might not be part of their daily lives. We particularly know that the internet is an invaluable resource to young LGBTIQ people looking for information and support, and they deserve a connection, wherever they live.
This same connection to the internet is also important to women who have experienced domestic violence. By connecting online, women can seek counselling, have conversations with other women about their experiences, access resources and make plans for their lives when they leave a violent situation.
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