Page 728 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The other point I would note for Mr Parton’s benefit is this: look at the existing housing stock as well. There are more houses than units by a considerable number. (Time expired.)
MR PARTON: Chief Minister, why are you ignoring the Winton report survey data in the housing choices paper?
MR BARR: I am not. Again I would point Mr Parton to the simple fact that there are more than 100,000 houses in Canberra and about 25,000 apartments. The existing housing stock is predominantly single, detached dwellings and will remain that way, I would imagine, for most of our lifetimes.
Mr Parton: I don’t know, the way you are going.
MR BARR: Very good, very droll, Mr Parton. Nevertheless the fact remains that there are, by a significant factor, more single, detached dwellings. But we are not making any new land. So we will, if we are going to accommodate an increasing population, which is going to happen—go back 20 or 30 years when this city was 100,000 fewer people or go back 40 years when it was half the size that it is—you certainly do need to plan for the future. That future will involve, in the foreseeable future, continued greenfield land release but that will ultimately have to come to an end because we will run out of land.
MISS C BURCH: Chief Minister, why are you pre-empting the outcomes of your minister’s housing choices discussion paper by saying that Canberrans will just have to accept a lot more higher density housing?
MR BARR: I am not; I am just pointing out a few pretty obvious facts: there will come a time when we run out of land.
Multicultural affairs—policy framework
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Minister, what is the ACT government doing to achieve its vision for an inclusive and cohesive community, as outlined in the ACT multicultural framework 2015-20?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Ms Orr for her question and her interest in this topic. Tomorrow is Harmony Day, and the theme for Harmony Day is “everyone belongs”, a reminder that the different cultures that make up our diverse community are all valuable and all contribute to the rich fabric of our community. It is therefore an appropriate time to consider how this government supports and recognises the community’s respect, understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.
To achieve our vision for an inclusive and cohesive community, the ACT government is undertaking a number of activities under the ACT multicultural framework 2015-20, as Ms Orr noted. The framework has three key objectives: accessible and responsive services; citizenship, participation and cohesion; and capitalising on the benefits of cultural diversity.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video