Page 231 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Portfolio priorities—Minister Rattenbury—Ministerial statement, 15 December 2016.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Strategic outcomes and priorities
Ministerial statement
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Disability, Children and Youth, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (11.08): Through my portfolios I have an opportunity to work with individuals, families, businesses, unions and the community sector to build a fairer, safer and more inclusive city. Achieving our goals will require us to do our own work well and to work constructively with local organisations and the people of Canberra.
Nowhere is this more important than in our response to family and domestic violence. While the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister Ramsay have spoken in detail about the government’s commitment to and strategy for addressing this crisis in our community, it is important for me to note that it drives and is driven by challenges that cut across many portfolios, including my own.
Similarly, the implementation of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agreement will require many players to take responsibility if we are to deliver the outcomes identified by the community, and deliver those outcomes we must if we are ever to achieve true equality and true reconciliation.
My portfolios support Canberra’s children and families through universal services, early intervention and statutory services. As a community, we should be proud of our recent reforms in these areas, particularly in youth justice, where we have seen a dramatic fall in the number of young people engaged with the justice system.
I have already met with many of our committed partners in the community, including the ACT Council for Social Service, representatives of the United Ngunnawal Elders Council, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Women with Disabilities ACT, the Youth Coalition, and a number of advocacy, advisory and service delivery organisations.
I have also had the great pleasure of meeting with a number of leaders in Canberra’s vibrant multicultural community and attending fabulous events, such as the recent Diwali celebrations. And I have spent time listening to stakeholders about the issues and priorities in workplace safety and industrial relations.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video