Page 2254 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 August 2016
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more can be done to open up options for spaces to meet and celebrate across the capital. We are asking if the increased use of ACT government-operated schools and sports facilities, when available on weekends or evenings, would be beneficial. The feedback we have received so far has been incredibly positive, with communities welcoming the opportunity to be heard. There are, of course, many community groups already using school facilities for programs such as language classes. Our city, particularly our outer suburbs, is starting to and will continue to benefit from seeing more events within ACT government schools or sporting facilities closer to them rather than being concentrated in Civic or other inner city locations.
The ACT led the nation in being declared a refugee welcome zone in June 2015. The ACT has exercised both its capacity and its compassion to welcome those fleeing persecution, and we are doing our fair share to support people in desperate need. In 2015 the ACT committed to welcoming an additional 250 refugees from Syria and Iraq. This was above and beyond the usual humanitarian intake for the ACT. We have welcomed over 2,000 refugees to our city since 1997, and the ACT government plays an important role, together with the federal government and key local community organisations, in providing services to support and assist refugees and asylum seekers.The ACT government and every cultural community in the ACT play a critical role when it comes to supporting new and existing members of our community. This means treating people with patience and respect, especially those who may have had negative experiences with government in their home countries. It also means taking the time to understand the personal experiences of each person and helping them to receive the right services at the right time. The government supports this through the One Canberra Reference Group report, which contains a wide range of practical initiatives that our community feels are important to further strengthen our community, diversity and cohesion and to ensure that at-risk and vulnerable members of our community do not face barriers to services, information or assistance. I am pleased to report that organisations across the ACT have been working together to enable refugees and asylum seekers to feel that they are valued members of their communities and to access services, supports and resources.
The ACT government will continue to provide open and transparent opportunities to all members of the community to access land. Under the Planning and Development Act 2007, the ACT government directly grants leases of land to eligible applicants in the not-for-profit sector as well as the commercial and government sector if it is of significant benefit to the community and aligns with government policy objectives.
At present, this process is overseen by ACT Property Group within the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, which also manages buildings which are available for use by community groups and businesses. We have had a lot of conversations this week in the Assembly about making sure that we have transparent and clear processes around these matters as a matter of integrity, and it is important for Mrs Jones and others in the Assembly to note that the government must continue to follow these clear processes around these matters. These policies have been developed to deliver fair and equitable outcomes for all members of our community.
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