Page 219 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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Canberra by mid-2020. A free annual bulky waste collection service will also be implemented allowing Canberrans to more easily dispose of bulky items each year—a particular initiative I know this chamber is very much looking forward to. A container deposit scheme will be implemented to encourage recycling and keep our suburbs clean and tidy.
With the range of transport and city services initiatives I have outlined I am confident the essential services, infrastructure and transport needs of our community will be welcomed by all.
Finally, I would like to touch on my responsibilities as Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research. This portfolio provides an opportunity to significantly influence our goal to grow and diversify Canberra’s economy and recognises the enormous value and opportunity this sector has to contribute to our future as a smart-knowledge economy. It is central to the government’s ambition for growing economic opportunity for all Canberrans.
Few cities of comparable size to Canberra have a higher education, training and research sector of the scale and quality of ours. Our connections with this sector are extensive, and education is Canberra’s largest export. As minister I will look to grow and strengthen the sector as a whole. We have particular opportunities to strengthen sectors of our economy where there are exceptional skills and knowledge, notably the defence, cyber security and space sectors.
Earlier this year the Chief Minister launched the international education strategy which was developed in close consultation with education and research institutions. While the education institutions retain responsibility for attracting students directly, the ACT government will work closely with them to promote Canberra as an education destination and ensure that students enjoy the experience of living, studying and working in Canberra. We will continue the successful studyCanberra initiative and refocus it in partnership with the institutions including the student experience and providing opportunities for students to pursue internship placements with local organisations.
Of course economic diversification also requires skills development, and bringing the two together in one portfolio provides a great opportunity to ensure that we deliver the skills that our growing economy needs and the jobs our future workforce needs. The VET sector is an important part of addressing skills need and as the minister I am keen to ensure that the sector, and in particular CIT, plays a leadership role in addressing emerging skills. We are undertaking continued reform in the ACT VET sector to drive improvements in quality outcomes and industry responsiveness.
CIT has a wonderful reputation, and the ACT government is working closely with CIT to ensure the benefits of increased autonomy, including through the introduction of a governing board, are realised. The ACT Labor government will ensure CIT remains the properly funded, primary provider of high quality vocational education in Canberra. We are committed to providing secure funding for CIT, maintaining a minimum of 70 per cent of total ACT government funding for
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