Chief Minister Andrew Barr outlined his priorities for the year ahead today, the first session of the Legislative Assembly for the year.
The ACT is the fastest-growing state or territory in the nation, Mr Barr noted. Over the past decade, its population grew by around 370,000 to 460,000, and is set to reach half a million people by 2027.
Much of that population growth has been people aged 25 to 39, attracted by jobs, higher education, and Canberra’s desirability as a place to live. This strong population growth will continue to be driven by natural increase (more births than deaths each year) and international and internal migration.
“The Government is investing now and planning for the future to ensure that, as our population increases, Canberra continues to be one of the world’s most liveable cities,” Mr Barr said.
That government investment, Mr Barr said, includes:
- healthcare: nurse-led walk-in centres and community health centres; the expansion of the Canberra Hospital; the Federal Government’s commitment to deliver an urgent care clinic in Canberra, working closely with the ACT Government.
- education and training: including a new CIT campus in Woden
- transport: extending the light rail network; increasing the electric bus fleet; rolling out EV charging infrastructure across the city; and developing new bikeways and footpaths
- climate action: to accelerate the ACT’s path to a net-zero emissions future;
- housing affordability: delivering more diverse and affordable housing to more people
The ACT Government will soon release the first update to the Territory’s 2019 Infrastructure Plan, focusing on arts, entertainment, and sporting infrastructure.
The ACT Government is reforming the tax system to reduce reliance on transaction taxes, such as stamp duty, and to broaden the tax base to invest in government services and infrastructure, Mr Barr said.
Drugs of dependence
In October, the ACT will become the first Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise the possession of small quantities of a range of illicit drugs.
“Drug use is a health issue, not a criminal one,” Mr Barr said.
“Decriminalising the possession of small quantities of the most common illicit drugs will provide those battling addiction with the help they need, without shame or the risk of criminal prosecution.”
The legislation will focus on diversion, access to treatment, and reducing the stigma of drug use, providing an avenue away from the criminal justice system.
Over the next nine months, the government will implement oversight arrangements; train frontline workers; and develop clear communication material in conjunction with police, the alcohol and drug sector, policy experts, and people with a lived experience of drug use.
The ACT Government invests more than $26 million each year in alcohol and drug treatment and harm reduction services in the ACT.
- ACT Legislative Assembly divided on hard drug decriminalisation (20 October 2022)
- ACT Government progresses Michael Pettersson’s drugs reform bill (9 June 2022)
Minimum age of criminal responsibility
By 2025, the ACT will raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility: to 12 this year, and to 14 two years later.
“This approach will ensure we have the appropriate services in place to support children and young people who might otherwise enter the criminal justice system, while making our community safer,” Mr Barr said.
“We’ll be getting to these kids early, before they start engaging in more serious harm.”
In circumstances of the most serious and harmful actions, the criminal law will still apply to offenders 12 years and over.
- ACT to raise minimum age of criminal responsibility (3 November 2022)
Discrimination laws
“The ACT is strengthening its anti-discrimination laws, to ensure every Canberran has social connections and economic opportunities,” Mr Barr said.
The ACT Government committed in 2020, at the beginning of the parliamentary term, to review discrimination legislation, and ensure it protects every Canberran’s right to equality.
Last year, Tara Cheyne, ACT Minister for Human Rights, introduced a Bill to amend the Discrimination Act 1991. This legislation will be debated this year.
- ACT Government reforms discrimination laws (30 November 2022)
The Bill will expand coverage of the Discrimination Act to formally organised sporting activities, formally organised competitions, and the administration of Territory laws or ACT government programs or policies.
“These changes will better align our legislation with the Human Rights Act, promoting greater social inclusion and respect for diversity,” Mr Barr said.
“They will protect people in more situations, including some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
All organisations, businesses, and individuals with over-arching management responsibility will have a positive duty to take reasonable and proportionate steps to end discrimination, sexual harassment, and unlawful vilification before they can happen.
“These changes also include a significant shift away from a reactive approach to addressing discrimination, to taking reasonable and proportionate steps to embed equality in all aspects of public life,” Mr Barr said.
Voluntary assisted dying
The ACT Government today began community consultation about voluntary assisted dying in the ACT. A listening report will inform the development of legislation, which the government will introduce later this year.
“Many Canberrans have looked forward to this day, so they can have their say on this fundamental right: to die with dignity and support,” Mr Barr said.
- Voluntary assisted dying consultation open for ACT (7 February)
Last year, the Senate voted to allow the ACT and the Northern Territory to legislate on voluntary assisted dying, overturning the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 (the Andrews Bill), which prevented the two territories from debating the issue for 25 years. Since then, Mr Barr noted, every Australian state has legalised voluntary assisted dying.
- Work begins on voluntary assisted dying for ACT Government (2 December 2022)
- ACT politicians welcome Territory rights after 25 years (2 December 2022)
Voice to Parliament
The ACT Government will support the process of enshrining an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution.
Tomorrow, Mr Barr will bring forward an Executive Motion seeking to affirm the Assembly’s support for the ‘Voice’ referendum; and seeking Assembly endorsement for a community engagement campaign about the referendum.
Mr Barr’s ambition is for the ACT to have the highest ‘yes’ vote in the country, as it did with the gay marriage vote in 2017 and the Republic referendum in 1999.
“Constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament is a significant step in ensuring First Nations people have a voice on the policies that directly impact their lives,” Mr Barr said.
“A national Voice to Parliament is a welcome next step forward so all Australians can ‘walk together to build a better future’.”
- Paterson: ACT Government should endorse Uluru Statement (22 November 2022)
- PM ups the ante on voice support as parliament returns (6 February)
Planning and housing affordability
Last year, the ACT Government opened consultation on a new Planning Bill, a new draft Territory Plan and District Strategies.
This year, the Legislative Assembly will consider the feedback to the proposed planning reforms, and enact them in the Assembly.
- Planning Bill report – more work to do, some concerns (22 December 2022)
- ACT Government ‘focusing on outcomes’ in draft Territory Plan (1 November 2022)
- ACT Government introduces reformed planning laws (21 September 2022)
“Planning reform is crucial to not only building more homes, but ensuring Canberrans have access to more diverse and affordable housing options,” Mr Barr said.
“There isn’t an endless supply of land in the Territory. The things that make the ACT a great place to live can’t exist if we endlessly sprawl.
“That’s why we are aiming to achieve a “gentle urbanism”: building more affordable homes to own and rent in locations where people want to live, while retaining Canberra’s distinct character.”
The ACT, will deliver 30,000 more diverse and affordable housing dwellings in the ACT over the next five years, increasing the supply from around 180,000 dwellings to 210,000, Mr Barr said.
The government will also invest in the Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program and support more build-to-rent projects.
Last week, the government established a new Office of the Coordinator General for Housing.
Light rail and electric buses
The ACT will transition to a zero-emission public transport network by 2040: the government is procuring 300 battery electric buses and extending the light rail network to Woden.
Mr Barr considers this important as the city’s population grows to three-quarters-of-a-million people over the next couple of decades.
“We must plan for the future now and ensure that, over the years ahead, Canberra remains a liveable city where it is easy to move around,” Mr Barr said.
- 12 km of cables to charge Canberra’s new electric buses (31 January)
- New bus smell as first of ACT’s zero-emissions fleet hits the road (28 January)
- Liberals will call on government to stop light rail (7 February)
- Light rail has gone off the rails, Canberra Liberals say (5 December 2022)
Abortion access
The ACT Government will introduce free medical and surgical abortions, up to 16 weeks.
“Access to abortion is healthcare – and all women should be able to make decisions about their bodies,” Mr Barr said.
- Free abortions for Canberra women from early next year (4 August 2022)
Climate action
The ACT leads the nation on climate action as it works towards a net-zero emissions future, Mr Barr said. It was the first Australian jurisdiction to be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.
The Sustainable Household Scheme has provided more than $125 million for sustainable upgrades since 2021.
The government is building the Big Canberra Battery, to store the renewable energy generated in the ACT.
The government will incentivise the take-up of electric vehicles, while rolling out more electric vehicle charging stations across Canberra. Electric vehicle registrations in the ACT have doubled over the 12 months to December 2022, from about 1,500 to more than 3,000 registrations.
- ACT leads the nation in EV charging stations (11 August 2022)
- NRMA launches mobile EV chargers in ACT and NSW (31 January)
