Page 1945 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2016
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Madam Speaker, one of the goals of the Greens in the ACT is to make Canberra an exemplar of a smart, green city. But what does it mean to be a smart, green city? A green city embraces Greens’ values. It cares for its environment. It cares for its people. It recognises that by making policy decisions that prioritise people and the environment we also create a city of wellbeing that is sustainable and that is economically prosperous. Reaching for economic prosperity at the expense of people or the environment will never work. A smart, green city is smart because in pursuit of these goals it embraces new technologies, best practices, cost-effective interventions, cutting-edge research and targeted improvements. In the coming months the ACT Greens will outline a range of initiatives that will help the implementation of Canberra as a smart, green city.
We can also see examples of it happening already, through recent budgets and in this budget. The Civic cycle loop and Bunda Street shareway have been recognised with planning awards. There is the continuation of the ACTsmart program aimed at reducing waste and increasing recycling in business. Electric bus trials are another step towards a fossil-fuel free public transport system, as is the research to be undertaken to investigate electric vehicle uptake in the ACT. Urban wetlands preserve our environment and improve water quality. We saw more progress in this budget with water quality works at Isabella pond and the creation of the Molonglo River reserve.
But there are so many more opportunities for Canberra to lead as a smart, green city, through innovation, education and training in new, green industries. My Greens colleagues and I will have plenty more to say on this as we head towards the October poll.
Progressive governments deliver education funding that ensures everyone has a chance at a good quality education. I am pleased as education minister to have announced funding this year to build the capacity of our public schools to respond to the needs of all students. The schools for all program has sharpened our focus on schools being truly student centred and giving the best chance to every student, irrespective of their background and irrespective of the barriers they might face. The $21.5 million announced this week, combined with more efficient processes and pathways, will strengthen how we support our students.
We have also provided $41.5 million to expand facilities to meet the fast growth in student numbers in Gungahlin and updates to school facilities across other regions in Canberra. Canberra’s public schools are great schools, and our investment in ongoing quality assurance for all schools will ensure they stay great and get even better.
Last year the ACT government signed a whole-of-government ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agreement which commits the government to a range of measures to overcome Indigenous disadvantage. The Greens are pleased to see this being progressed in this year’s budget through a $2 million justice reform program for services and support for offenders with high and complex needs, and their families. The Greens are deeply concerned about the high rates of Indigenous incarceration and I look forward to seeing the results of this funding having a long-term and lasting impact on breaking the cycle for offenders in our Indigenous community.
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