Page 1520 - Week 05 - Friday, 10 May 2019
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Over the 30 years of the Assembly there has only been one term of majority government, from 2004 to 2008. Before then there was always a combination of independents and minor parties as well as the major parties. As a result, the people in the ACT tend to be more comfortable with minority governments and how they work than perhaps people in other parts of the country. People here can see that minority government does not necessarily lead to instability but can in fact lead to improved scrutiny and a diversity of ideas and debate and perspectives that are brought to this place.
In some part, as a reflection of that, since its inception at self-government the ACT has led the way on the national stage in many ways, and the Chief Minister made this point earlier. The very first point of note, of course, was Rosemary Follett becoming Australia’s first female head of government. Having now had three female chief ministers, we still lead the nation, and we have managed to do this within 30 years, where states have had many more decades and have not achieved this. In percentage terms, this means that around 45 per cent of the time we have had a female chief minister and, for that, the territory can be proud. Interestingly, for two years ACT residents were represented by a female chief minister, a female prime minister, a female governor-general and a queen. Only Tasmanians can match that.
Other national firsts include decriminalising cannabis use in 1992, legally recognising same-sex couples in 1994, decriminalising abortion in 2002, passing Australia’s first human rights act in 2004, passing anti-SLAPP legislation in 2008 to ensure that corporations cannot use legal actions to stop activists protesting, Australia’s first pill-testing trial in 2018 and of course the creation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, again a step that no other jurisdiction has yet taken.
The ACT is one of Australia’s best jurisdictions for animal welfare and we have much to be proud of, including banning the use of wild animals in circuses since 1992, the banning of tail docking of dogs, being the first and only place to ban sow stalls, caged hens and debeaking and also banning greyhound racing just over a year ago.
The ACT Greens are proud to have helped make Canberra one of the most progressive, inclusive and sustainable cities. We have spent our time in this place standing up for the community and the environment, raising issues of sustainability and fair planning and standing up for vulnerable people.
Now climate change is the biggest challenge that we face, something recognised in key polling released this week. The ACT is nationally and internationally leading climate change targets. Our 40 per cent emissions reduction target by 2020 was legislated by the Seventh Assembly. It is a target to match the scientific advice and the ecological imperative. It is an ambitious target, one that many were sceptical that we might meet. But with the 100 per cent renewable electricity target being delivered by next year we are well on track.
The government has just rolled out the first stage of light rail, a transport network that will help change and shape this city for decades to come. This will help us address the very real challenge of coping with population growth over the coming decades, reduce
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