Page 179 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 December 2016
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important target and taking further steps through our action plans. Just in the past weekend, Minister Rattenbury announced the finalisation of funding agreements for the Crookwell 2 and Sapphire wind farms, which will power 90,000 Canberra homes. Not only are the people of Canberra now provided with clean, renewable energy but this policy delivers jobs and economic benefits by way of $400 million in local investment facilitated by our reverse auction process, which requires firms to invest in ACT businesses in the long term.
Whether it is dealing with harassment outside abortion clinics or preventing people in our schools being bullied, a key part of being a progressive and inclusive government is looking out for the most disadvantaged and disenfranchised in our community, and this extends to our renewable energy strategy. As a party of working people, we recognise that the effects of climate change are already being felt and it is those with the least financial resources that will struggle the most to adapt to a changing environment and suffer the greatest from its adverse economic effects.
The community’s understanding of mental health is growing and it is an issue that our government is taking seriously. We will take the step of establishing an office for mental health in government to oversee health services and provider funding, develop a strategy that sets targets for suicide reduction and provide more support for young people. I was particularly proud of Labor’s commitment during the campaign to build a 12-bed adolescent mental health unit here in the ACT as an extension of the centenary women’s and children’s hospital. This builds on Labor’s track record of delivering targeted health services and facilities for specific groups.
I know that this is an issue that many people in our community care about because we are currently sending our young people down to the South Coast for treatment, away from friends and family. This purpose-built facility will mean that our youngest Canberrans get the support and treatment they need to get well without having to sacrifice their ability to participate fully in our community.
The Labor government recognises that a good, secure home is fundamental to inclusion in our society. That is why Labor has always invested in social housing and homelessness services. I remember that the last time the Liberals were in government in the ACT they cut 1,000 public houses from the system, leaving some of the most disadvantaged Canberrans without shelter. Our difference in approach could not be greater. We are investing in the biggest renewal of public housing since self-government through our $550 million program, replacing 1,288 dwellings home for home and creating 2½ thousand jobs in the process. In doing so we are learning from historical ACT government social housing investments by more evenly dispersing these dwellings throughout the community rather than concentrating them in small, dense clusters, which we know exacerbates social problems.
We will also build a second Common Ground at Dickson to provide long-term, high quality housing options for people on low incomes and a solution for people who experience chronic homelessness. And to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people we will invest $4.4 million in housing for older persons, consulting with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and the broader community. As a result of our investment in homelessness services, the
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