Page 5 - Week 01 - Monday, 31 October 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
know how hard you have all worked to engage with your local communities during this campaign and I look forward to working with each of you in the coming four years.
This morning I would like to extend a particular welcome to my seven new Labor caucus colleagues. This is a diverse, local, talented and renewed Labor team. Newly elected Labor MLAs include planners, mathematicians, lawyers, early childhood specialists, community activists and policy experts. Welcome to you all. It is a great honour and privilege to lead you in this place. I am immensely proud of your achievements so far and I know that this is just a further chapter in your contribution to this city.
It should be acknowledged and celebrated that this is the first time in Australian political history that a parliament has more women than men. This represents another first for the ACT, something that we can all be proud of. By reflecting the diversity of our community I am confident that together we can serve them better. This parliament is demographically more representative than others before it, with members aged in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
From the first Ngunnawal people who called this place home, through the birth of a national capital, to the mature and confident city of today, Canberra people have built a life here: in our suburbs, in our schools, in the public service and in business, in our universities and in our community organisations. We are all proud to call Canberra home.
For 40 years I have lived and breathed this city. In that time I have seen Canberra emerge as a global city, a city leading Australia in renewable energy targets, in higher education and in the adoption of new technology.
Over the years Canberrans have chosen Labor governments to help them reach their potential, to support their lives, to support their choices and to back them in. As I said when I launched Labor’s campaign for this election, I have never believed that Canberra is a Labor city but what I do believe is that Labor is a Canberra party. I know our party and I know my colleagues. I know we all love Canberra. We love our inclusive and welcoming community and natural spaces and bushlands. Together, we want to keep the city we love and build a positive new future.
By re-electing my government, Canberrans have voted for a positive vision, a vision of a confident and self-reliant city where everyone is welcome and where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. I thank the people of Canberra for supporting our positive plan for this city. They have endorsed our focus on making health care and education even better for everyone and not just for those who can afford it.
They overwhelmingly voted to avoid becoming gridlocked by backing light rail. Canberrans have said loudly and clearly that they want a city that confidently faces the future, a future of health care when and where you need it, of world-class learning spaces and tools and of well-paid and secure jobs in a diversified economy; a
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video