Page 974 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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Environment and Transport and City Services—Standing Committee
Government response
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Urban Renewal) (2.48): Pursuant to standing order 211, I move:
That the Assembly take note of the following paper:
Environment and Transport and City Services—Standing Committee—Report 7—Inquiry into ACT Libraries—Government response.
MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee—Minister for City Services, Minister for Community Services and Facilities, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Roads) (2.49): With the indulgence of the Assembly, Madam Speaker, I would firstly like to note that I am wearing some interesting socks today: library card socks. You probably cannot see them from where you are right now in the chamber.
I welcome the opportunity to table the government’s response to the inquiry into ACT libraries. Libraries change lives in the ACT. Every day, young children begin their literacy journey; seniors learn digital literacy; the socially isolated connect with others through a club or program at the library; and adults improve their literacy, whether new English speakers or not.
The ACT government is proud that our libraries have the highest levels of membership in Australia, with almost two-thirds of Canberrans being library members. Our libraries provide not only physical and digital resources but opportunities for the community to come together and learn new skills or information, thereby creating a lifelong learning community.
Submissions to the inquiry into ACT libraries were overwhelmingly positive and demonstrated both the high value placed on our libraries by the community and the ways that this value can be enhanced to reach even further into the community to change lives.
There were 14 recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services in the report of the inquiry. Of these, the government has agreed to 11, agreed in principle to two and noted one. Consultation and planning are two key themes in the recommendations of the inquiry, and I am pleased to advise that Libraries ACT will soon begin work on a new strategic plan which will be widely consulted on with the community.
As outlined in the recommendations, the government agrees in principle to engaging in a co-design process with the community when developing the new strategic plan for Libraries ACT. The government also agrees in principle to consider the Weston Creek and Molonglo region as a possible location for a future library as the population
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