Page 1957 - Week 07 - Thursday, 13 August 2020
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include hybrid theatres, and interventional radiology theatres will allow for advances in the use of medical technology and new techniques.
We are committed to co-designing this new facility with its users and its neighbours, including the local community reference group, clinicians, consumers, carers and the broader public. This approach will help us to ensure that the new facility is fit for purpose, bringing together technology and modern hospital designs to provide advanced clinical treatments as well as clinical and public spaces that work for hospital users and contribute to healing.
I am pleased to advise that the early contractor involvement procurement model tender process has been completed. The outcome was announced on Tuesday—to have Multiplex as our partner in this project. Multiplex will now work collaboratively with the ACT government and the community to finalise the design of the new building over the rest of this year and work towards the main works contract in the first half of 2021. Over the coming weeks, we will be working intensively with Multiplex to ensure a smooth transition as they come on board.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, how many jobs will be created as part of these works?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: Again, I thank Ms Cheyne for the question. There is no question—we have talked about it many times in this place—that COVID-19 has had great impacts, felt across the world, across our country and, of course, across our city. That is why it is so critical to continue to get on with the work of government, providing jobs and working towards economic recovery. While there are a number of milestones that lie ahead, much progress has already been made on the Canberra Hospital expansion and many jobs have already been created, providing job certainty for Canberrans as we respond to COVID-19’s emergence in the ACT.
Looking forward, I am pleased to say that, during construction of this new critical care facility, we will see an additional 500 jobs created for our region. These new jobs will employ people whose incomes will flow through to support other local jobs. As they get their morning coffee, do their weekly shopping and employ local services, their purchases will flow on to suppliers of and workers in these businesses, supporting their families and our community.
There has also been a commitment to a target of training 30 per cent of those employed to construct the new facility through apprenticeships, graduates and cadets, an upskilling of the workforce generally. This will provide future opportunities for Canberrans as they gain the experience of working on the largest investment in healthcare infrastructure in the ACT since self-government.
I am particularly pleased to advise the Assembly that, in line with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander procurement policy, Multiplex will work to ensure that first nations contractors, workers and businesses are engaged in this process. Once the new facility is completed, there will also be more jobs for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, attracting more healthcare workers to cater for growing health demand in our region.
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