Page 80 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 2018
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territories of our democratic right to make decisions about end of life choices. Canberra is a mature, educated and engaged community. We are ready and more than capable of having a mature discussion about voluntary assisted dying in this jurisdiction. I welcome the commencement of work by the Assembly select committee on this fundamental issue.
Madam Assistant Speaker, no matter your personal views—I acknowledge that people will have very different views—everyone should surely support the right of Australia’s territories to make our own laws. This barrier is particularly absurd, given that the state of Victoria has now legislated in this area. I look forward to the support of members across the Assembly on the principle of standing up for the democratic rights of the people we represent.
In 2018 the government and each of its members will continue to deliver for Canberrans on the issues that matter to them. We are going to further increase our use of online engagement to reach more Canberrans. We will continue to cut stamp duty and to increase housing supply to put home ownership within the reach of more young Canberrans and particularly those on low and middle incomes. First and foremost, housing is about shelter and security. So we will continue our efforts both locally and through pursuing national reforms to see more Canberrans owning their own homes, maintaining stable rental tenancies, and ensuring that those experiencing the risk of homelessness are supported into secure accommodation.
This is demonstrated practically by our work to design and commence construction of Common Ground 2 in the Dickson precinct over the coming 18 months. We will show how better designed and smarter cities can increase productivity, social inclusion and grow more good jobs. We will improve transport links with other Australian cities, expand on our expertise in renewable energy, and continue our investment in the digital innovation that Canberrans so enthusiastically embrace.
Madam Assistant Speaker, to ensure that Canberra continues to be a modern and confident city, the government will bring forward important pieces of legislation this year. Our legislative priorities impact on Canberra’s families and how they move around the city. They safeguard our most vulnerable and improve the efficiency of government. During this sitting period we are protecting Canberra’s most vulnerable by tightening firearms legislation, improving the efficiency of the court system and providing new mechanisms to support urban renewal and adaptive re-use of ageing buildings.
The Attorney-General will introduce legislation to establish a drug and alcohol court, as well as addressing recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. We will continue to protect children and young people through amendments to further implement the step up for our kids strategy, whilst we establish a legislative mechanism for reviews into family violence deaths.
Meanwhile, as we reform Canberra’s public transport sector, the government will introduce a framework for the operation of light rail, including ticketing and enforcement powers. Before the end of the year, we also intend to legislate reforms to Canberra’s compulsory third party insurance scheme that are the recommendations of
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