Page 334 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 14 February 2017
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A Labor government will always ensure that our education sector has the funding and facilities it needs to deliver education for all. This government will continue to make Canberra schools safe schools. Every Canberra student has the right to feel safe at their school regardless of their gender or sexuality. We have funded the safe schools program. We simply will not let the benefits of this program be jeopardised by a backward-looking coalition federal government.
Our arts scene is thriving and we will continue to help it flourish. We have continued funding to the Art, Not Apart festival. Floriade is currently our biggest annual tourism event. We want to build on that success, and we have funded the inaugural Floriade Fringe, further expanding our arts scene and refreshing our city’s iconic tourism event.
Since I became Chief Minister just a little over two years ago the government and the community have worked together to deliver important policy reforms. In 2017 we will continue this progress. We have connected Canberra to the world with our first international flights. The business and tourism opportunities that are possible because of this are starting to flow. Our universities are major employers and are working together to attract students from around the world and are raising our city’s profile as they rise up the international rankings.
Our economy is continuing to diversify, riding out wave after wave of federal Liberal job cuts to be one of the strongest in the country. Our unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent is the equal lowest in Australia. Our public transport network is convenient, reliable and affordable with light rail stage 1 on the way. Free senior and concession off-peak travel commenced in January, and more of the rapid buses are due to be added to our network this year.
This is a city that keeps on getting better, and Canberrans recognise this. We are a more nationally and internationally engaged city, and Canberrans voted for that process to continue. To ensure that Canberra continues to be a modern and confident city, this Assembly will consider a range of important pieces of legislation this year. This legislation puts the needs of Canberrans first, and the emphasis continues to be on making Canberra a better place to live, a better place to study and a better place to work. Our legislative priorities impact on Canberra’s families, how they move around our city, our important natural environment, and planning reform amongst other areas.
During this sitting week Minister Ramsay will introduce legislation that strengthens the government’s response to domestic, family and sexual violence and promotes family safety. Our response in this area has been nation leading and we will continue to support those most in need and expand the support services available to them during this term of government.
Across future sitting weeks Minister Ramsay will seek to bring forward a comprehensive red tape reduction package to make government more efficient and effective.
Minister Stephen-Smith will seek to improve the efficiency of legislation that supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and makes amendments to support the implementation of the step up for our kids out of home care strategy.
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