Bean

86 per cent of the votes in the contested seat of Bean have been counted. Independent Jessie Price leads by an estimated 801 votes: she has 50.4 per cent, and incumbent MP David Smith (Labor) 49.6 per cent.

Oaks

Oaks Estate, on the Queanbeyan border, has been called Canberra’s forgotten suburb. It has no ACTION bus service and no school; lacks health and support services; has a high level of homelessness; and drug dealing, violence, and aggressive dogs have left residents feeling unsafe.

Prompted by an appeal from residents’ groups, MLAs Elizabeth Lee (Canberra Liberals), Thomas Emerson (independent) and Shane Rattenbury (ACT Greens) sponsored a motion for the government to develop a five-year strategic plan to address problems entrenching its residents in disadvantage.

Their motion unanimously passed the Legislative Assembly.

“The people of Oaks Estate rightly feel they have been forgotten by this ACT Labor government,” Ms Lee said. “For years, they have been forced to deal with issues and a lack of basic government services that Canberrans in any other part of our Territory would not accept.”

The plan would improve public housing (which makes up 47 per cent of all dwellings there) and public transport, provides community health facilities, access to schools, and revitalise Oaks Estate.

“Residents will be relieved to have seen their government commit to help rebuild a safe, thriving, healthy community in Oaks Estate,” Mr Emerson said. “Like them, I’ll be watching closely to ensure this plan delivers what’s needed.”

Grass

The government will hold a public education campaign about polymer artificial grass (‘astroturf’), and consider removing it from public land.

Artificial grass poses several environmental and health risks, Greens MLA Andrew Braddock‘s motion argued: it prevents natural vegetation and water filtration, increases runoff, and retains heat to dangerous levels, especially for children. It degrades into microplastics that pollute waterways and harm wildlife, especially in sports fields using crumb rubber infill. It also reduces biodiversity and is rarely recycled. Despite these issues, its use is rising in Canberra due to limited public awareness.

Voluntary assisted dying

The ACT’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act comes into effect in November. The government today released the findings of a consultation into what happens when a person approved for VAD loses the ability to make decisions before the lethal dose is administered, which under current law makes them ineligible.

The consultation concluded that voluntary assisted dying for people who cannot make decisions themselves “raises profound ethical, legal and clinical concerns”, and would be unprecedented in Australia.

The government will continue to gather data and consult the public, with a view to potential reform next year.