Some prominent Canberrans share their thoughts for the community at Christmas, and their hopes for next year.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr
On behalf of the ACT Government, I wish Canberrans a great Christmas and a happy New Year.
It has been another challenging year; if you are getting a break – rest up and spend time with family and friends.
Think of those in our community who may not have family and friends around, or who just need that little extra support.
This summer in Canberra, there is a lot to see and do: the Cressida Campbell exhibition is on at the National Gallery of Australia, Feared and Revered at the National Museum of Australia. There are also a lot of old favourites plus new restaurants and cafés to check out all over Canberra.
In what is becoming a New Year’s Eve tradition for the nation’s capital, Canberrans and visitors are invited to picnic along the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin from 6pm, enjoy the community atmosphere with friends and family, and bring in the New Year with fireworks displays at 9pm and 12am.
Have a happy and safe summer!
Leader of the Canberra Liberals
As 2022 draws to a close, on behalf of the Canberra Liberals I wish all Canberrans a Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous new year.
In the wake of what has been a challenging couple of years for so many, I hope this holiday period provides the opportunity for Canberrans to spend precious time with family and loved ones, something that has remained difficult through COVID-19 and natural disasters in recent times.
Throughout 2022 many Canberrans once again went above and beyond across a number of areas to assist our community. Frontline workers, community groups, charity groups and not for profit organisations play a crucial role in assisting many Canberrans who are doing it tough, and I thank them for their tireless efforts.
As we head towards 2023 with cautious optimism, the Canberra Liberals look forward to once again getting out into the community in the new year to talk with and listen to Canberrans in the lead up to the election in 2024.
Leader of the ACT Greens
As 2022 comes to a close, I’d like to acknowledge that it’s been a hard year for many. Adjusting to a new way of life with COVID has been a global challenge, but the impacts are felt locally and individually. Many Australians have been affected by devastating floods, and our hearts go out to those around the world who have been impacted by the tragic war in the Ukraine.
I would like to take this opportunity to also reflect on some of the positives from the year and, in particular, share with you a number of ACT Greens policies and commitments that have been realised this year. These achievements reflect the critical role the six ACT Greens MLAs play in our shared Government and the progressive vision we have for Canberra.
The ACT now has a permanent fixed pill testing site up and running, an important health intervention, and something the ACT Greens have been championing for many years.
We have also established a roadmap to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 – a vital change to remove children from the criminal justice system.
As part of our ongoing climate change leadership, we have set targets to phase out internal combustion engines and introduced generous incentives to promote the uptake of electric vehicles. And it’s working – EV sales have really taken off in recent months.
We’ve announced the phase out of fossil fuel gas in the ACT and outlined a plan to electrify the city. This nation-leading work is crucial to reaching zero net emissions, tackling climate change, and making the ACT an exemplar sustainable city.
We’re driving more nation-leading reforms to strengthen protections for renters by ending “no-cause evictions” and setting new minimum standards for energy efficiency in rental properties. Tenants will have better security, more comfortable and safe housing, as well as energy bill relief.
We have driven updates to the national construction code – including minimum accessibility standards for all new homes and 7-star energy efficiency standards for all new homes built from October 2023.
I am really proud of the work we’re doing as Greens in Government, and we will deliver even more for the Canberra community in 2023. On behalf of the ACT Greens team in the Assembly, I wish all of your readers a safe and happy festive season.
Senator David Pocock
It has been such a privilege serving the community I love this year as the ACT’s first independent senator.
I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has engaged with me since the election. It is so important for me to be hearing directly from you – both the good and the bad – so I can do the best job possible representing you in federal parliament.
It’s been a huge first six months that has delivered some big wins for the ACT, with the passage of some massive reforms, from legislating our first ever national emissions reduction target and National Anti-Corruption Commission, to industrial relations and aged care reform, as well as finally restoring territory rights. The righting of that 25-year[1]old injustice showed what is possible when our community comes together and doesn’t give up.
Next year promises to be just as big with some really important housing legislation kicking off the parliamentary year followed by big debates on reforming our federal environmental laws, the management of water, and a host of other issues.
In the run up to the next federal budget in May, I will keep making the case for more investment in the ACT to make up for more than a decade of neglect. Priorities must include sustainable funding for our national cultural institutions and investment in the long-term renewal of key assets like the convention centre and stadium as part of a city partnership deal.
I know cost-of-living and access to health services are two other front of mind issues for us here in the ACT, and I will be focusing on these for the benefit of our community.
I wish everyone a happy and, most importantly, a safe festive season, and pay tribute to the people who will be working through this period looking out for and after us, whether that’s in retail, hospitality, health, emergency or other frontline services. Thank you, and here’s to a cracking 2023.
Mohammed Ali
Canberra Citizen of the Year, chair of HelpingACT
Wishing you peace and harmony in 2023.
The year 2022 was a tough year by all standards. Many of us suffered the aftereffects of COVID, along with a phenomenal increase in the cost of life. This became a challenge for HelpingACT [Mr Ali’s food security charity], but my hats off to you all who kept your generosity flowing, with many going above and beyond expectations. I wish to thank all of you, supporters and donors, individuals, and corporate businesses for being so generous.
My sincere thanks to the ACT Government for honouring me with the Canberra Citizen of the Year 2022 award, and later nominating me for ACT Senior Australian of the Year 2023. I wish to thank those friends who nominated me. It was certainly a humbling experience, but admittedly this recognition made HelpingACT’s work easier for me, my wonderful committed committee members, and selfless volunteers. Without their commitment and dedication, it was not possible for HelpingACT to become a notable charity in Canberra. Thank you, my friends; you are stars that show light in the dark of the night.
I am proud that in addition to providing food security to all the vulnerable people in Canberra indiscriminately, we were also able to start our landmark program of dental assistance to homeless people, titled ‘Homeless But Not Toothless’. This program will continue in the new year as well.
Special thanks to HandsAcrossCanberra, Rotary Club Hall, and Slabsforheroes, to name a few Canberra icons, for supporting HelpingACT throughout 2022. Gratitudes to Canberra Daily and other media friends. It has been an absolute pleasure working with each and every one of you.
Let us hope that 2023 is a year of peace and harmony for all of us, and hand in hand we are able to achieve a day when ‘No one sleeps hungry in Canberra’. This will lead to better physical and mental health. These objectives are achievable through mutual collaboration. And mutual collaboration we will make sure becomes a reality.
Love you all.
Love you, Canberra.
Wishing very happy festive season and a happy new year.
Dr Emma Campbell
CEO of the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
The festive season should be a time of celebration, relaxation, and enjoyment. However, the 38,000 Canberrans living below the poverty line – including more than 9,000 children – will not be afforded this luxury.
As many households enjoy the company of family and friends, others will reach out to Canberra’s community organisations to receive vital support to avoid hunger or homelessness.
Over the past 12 months, the ACT’s community organisations have seen a significant demand for support increase as households have struggled to stretch their declining budgets to cover the rising costs of the basics. Canberra remains the most expensive capital city to rent a house or a unit, and the ACT has the highest rate of rental stress among low-income private renters.
Let’s make 2023 a year where we deliver for those who have the least. We are calling on the Australian Government to raise the rate of working age payments to at least $70 a day and for all governments to work together to finally fix the ACT’s housing crisis.
And while the new year will undoubtedly bring change, ACTCOSS will remain firm in its advocacy for Canberrans on low incomes and people who face disadvantage.
ACTCOSS thanks the Canberra community for its ongoing support, and wishes everyone a safe and happy Christmas and new year.
Carrie-Ann Leeson
CEO of Lifeline Canberra
I would like to wish the Canberra community a safe and meaningful Christmas season.
Canberrans have been hit hard by the years gone by, and individuals continue to experience challenges at work, in relationships, and with their health. It is my hope that, next year, we all find joy and peace in what we are doing, the choices we make, and continue to connect with ourselves and others to strengthen this incredible community.
The end of a year always brings a period of reflection. For so many, it is a joyous time, filled with friends and family; but, for others, it can be a time of stress, pain, and isolation. It is so important, irrespective of your situation, to remain kind to yourself and others, maintain your boundaries, and continue to work on wellness. Please always remember that there is support available, always, at Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Thank you to every one of our incredible volunteers and supporters. None of us can imagine a world without Lifeline in it, and it brings me so much comfort to know we are surrounded by earth angels.
