Page 4088 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 23 October 2018
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MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall, Mr Hanson, if you want to have a conversation and humour amongst yourselves, take it outside.
MR BARR: One of the important steps we have taken is to embrace participatory democracy by using citizens juries, community panels and other deliberative forums to help inform important reforms. From the carers strategy to the better suburbs forum to the citizens jury on CTP reform, we are bringing Canberrans into the policy-making process from the start, with the community helping to set the objectives of reform.
Since 2016 we have conducted dozens of innovative consultations on issues as wide ranging as the new housing strategy through to the integrated public transport network. We will of course continue to look for new ways to involve Canberrans in decision-making about the big questions that our city faces as well, of course, as delivering on local infrastructure, because good government means being closely engaged with the communities that you represent.
MS ORR: Chief Minister, what are the government’s priorities for the next two years?
MR BARR: Amongst the top priorities are to deliver a step up in our health services as this city’s needs continue to grow. This will include more elective surgeries and making more health services more accessible; getting work underway on the SPIRE centre and the expansion of the Centenary hospital; and opening two new walk-in centres.
We will focus on opening a new public school in north Gungahlin and getting on with the work for the new primary school in the Molonglo Valley—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Chief Minister, could you resume your seat. Stop the clock. Members on my left, this is the third time that the Chief Minister has been on his feet and I have had to call you to allow the Chief Minister to answer the question. Chief Minister.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We will focus on opening new public schools in growth areas and continue with the next stage of light rail so we can continue to see the benefits of significant investment in transport infrastructure and congestion busting, which is a very popular topic in politics at the moment.
We will help more Canberrans access secure, suitable and affordable housing through the scrapping of stamp duty for first homebuyers and a range of other initiatives to be released shortly under the government’s housing strategy.
Every member of the government comes to work determined to deliver on the election commitments and the policy platform that we promised in 2016. We look forward to the opportunity to continue to deliver on that platform and that policy agenda, and
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