Page 1004 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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Welcoming Cities network
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (4.35): I move:
That:
(1) the ACT Government has a long-standing commitment to multiculturalism and inclusion, welcoming and providing support to new migrants, people arriving on humanitarian grounds or seeking asylum as they make Canberra their home;
(2) the ACT Government has taken a national leadership role in the support of refugees and people seeking asylum. Including:
(a) in September 2011, introducing the ACT Services Access Card, which allows eligible asylum seekers access to a suite of ACT services, programs and entitlements;
(b) in June 2015, the ACT becoming the first state or territory in Australia to register with the Refugee Council of Australia as a Refugee Welcome Zone;
(c) in October 2016, the ACT formally joining the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa Scheme; and
(d) establishing the ACT Multicultural Framework 2015-2020, which is built around three broad themes:
(i) supporting our multicultural communities;
(ii) providing tools and resources for all Canberrans to reach their full potential; and
(iii) ensuring that everyone is welcomed and can benefit from our rich cultural diversity;
(3) the Welcoming Cities Network is a national network of cities, shires, towns and municipalities committed to an inclusive social, cultural, economic and civic life for everyone;
(4) the Welcoming Cities Network is growing and now includes more than 135 municipalities across Australia and New Zealand, the Americas and Europe;
(5) becoming a member of the Welcoming Cities Network would demonstrate the ACT’s commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion;
(6) membership of the Welcoming Cities Network would further support the development of new and alternative strategies to create opportunities for all members of our community to participate in and contribute to social, economic and civic life;
(7) the Welcoming Cities Standard is a central element of the Welcoming Cities Network establishing the framework for local councils to benchmark their cultural diversity and inclusion policies and practices, identify where and how further efforts could be directed, and assess progress over time; and
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