Page 4478 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 30 October 2018
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requirements for new sister city relationships. Whilst this review continues, it will form the basis for future ACT government policymaking and decisions in relation to entering into any new sister city agreements.
Members might be aware of a longstanding commitment that we have to form such a relationship with Washington DC. During my visit earlier this year as part of then Prime Minister Turnbull’s trade delegation and our involvement with the national governors association, the equivalent body to COAG within the US, we did undertake some further discussions with the Mayor of Washington DC and the mayor’s international engagement office. During that meeting we of course noted the commonalities between our two city-states and the similar challenges faced by each jurisdiction.
Both cities are of course home to our respective federal governments. Both are subject to a local economy very much engaged in knowledge and service sectors, and both of our governments combine the delivery of city-level municipal governance with some state-level services. As a result we have sought to establish a closer relationship with Washington DC and look at a range of potential partnerships, particularly a collaboration being led by our national institutions with the Smithsonian Institute as a practical example.
Beyond tourism we are also looking at economic development, sustainability, social inclusion and the delivery of government infrastructure. We will progress these discussions and opportunities as this is potentially a very significant economic, social, cultural and political partnership for Canberra into the future. (Time expired.)
I understand that, in the absence of Mrs Kikkert and Mr Hanson from question time, there are now no further questions that can be asked. So I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
Paper
Mr Barr presented the following paper:
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act, pursuant to section 7—Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (NSW Container Deposit Scheme) Endorsement 2018 (No 1)—Notifiable Instrument NI2018-565, dated 12 October 2018.
Official Visitor (Homelessness Services)—annual report 2017-18
Paper and statement by minister
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (3.12): For the information of members, I present the following paper:
Official Visitor Act, pursuant to subsection 17(4)—Annual report 2017-18—Official Visitor (Homelessness Services).
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