Page 5208 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 29 November 2017
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One of the advantages of the stability in government that we have seen in recent years is the continuous effort that is being applied to those objectives and the continuous commitment to them. Through successive parliamentary agreements and legislative initiatives in this place and funded budget initiatives, Canberra is now leading the nation with progressive targets for 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020, and we are well on track to achieve our target of reducing emissions by 40 per cent by 2020.
That is something that will be achieved in the territory. It will make us one of the leading jurisdictions in the world not only in terms of doing what the scientists are telling us we should be doing but also in actually delivering it.
Mr Pettersson, in his motion, raised a number of other matters that I think are worth reflecting on. The recognition by Lonely Planet of Canberra as a top city in the world to visit is a great outcome for Canberra after many years, as I said earlier, of that reputation of Canberra among people outside the city and the way they talk about it. Recognition like that is perhaps telling everyone else what we all already know but it is great for the reputation of this city in terms of drawing both tourists and skilled workers. There are a group of people who are capable of working anywhere in the world. We want a city like ours to be one that is on their radar as being a great place to live, work and play, and I am pleased with that recognition from Lonely Planet. It is a bible for travellers, particularly Australian travellers, around the world. For Canberra to be recognised in that way is really terrific for this city’s reputation.
I want to talk about transport infrastructure, which Mr Pettersson mentioned in his motion as well. We are nearing completion of the first stage of light rail, which will be an excellent transport and city development project that will run on 100 per cent renewable energy. The Greens have strongly advocated for light rail for many years. Most notably in the lead-up to the 2012 election we campaigned for funding for the first stage of light rail. We are very pleased that we were able to agree with the Labor Party to move that forward as part of the 2012 parliamentary agreement. We are now on the cusp of seeing the realisation of a city-defining project and one that will help us be a leader in sustainability and livability.
It is important to reflect on the fact that light rail is so much more than just a transport mode. I think we are going to see that in coming years. We are already seeing it in the way that areas of Northbourne Avenue are being reinvigorated. We are seeing the private sector really embracing the opportunity that is coming from the development of this major infrastructure project by the ACT government with the new Mantra hotel that has just opened on the corner of Macarthur Avenue and Northbourne. When that was announced, I guess 12 or 18 months ago, the people behind it were very explicit in saying they had chosen that site and they saw a tremendous opportunity because of the delivery of light rail. We are seeing a series of places up and down Northbourne Avenue now which will be redeveloped, repurposed over the coming years and will enliven that corridor and provide new living opportunities for people in the city. I think this is a very positive development.
There are other areas, of course, where Canberra has made significant achievements. I acknowledge that Mr Pettersson could not fit all of these in his motion, though I am sure he would have liked to. There are areas such as animal welfare. Just yesterday we
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