With the recent change of government, there is a feeling of optimism that we’ll see a real shift from a fly-in fly-out workplace culture in the Federal Parliament, we’ll see a greater sense of appreciation of and pride in the national capital.
We have now four parliamentarians in government, a ACT Senator as Finance Minister and a Canberran MP as Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury. For the first time in history, we also have an independent Senator on the crossbench with a key vote.
Our Prime Minister again lives in Canberra. The national skills summit will be held in Canberra. There is a commitment to building the capacity of the Australian Public Service.
Locally, there is optimism about greater co-operation between the Federal and Territory governments, and a stronger Canberra voice in national debates and policy. The time is also right for a deeper discussion about the interdependency of government and business, with a shared objective to enhance the ways they can work together more effectively.
Canberra was planned and created for one purpose – to be Australia’s capital city. Originally our economy was built around support for the national Parliament and the ever-growing bureaucracy of the executive arm of government. Canberra was a public service town, and private sector businesses were there to serve either the needs of the public service, or to provide goods and services for public servants.
But the Canberra private sector continues to grow, and today nearly two-thirds of Canberra’s jobs are in private and not-for-profit businesses.
Busting the myth of the Canberra Bubble means acknowledging not only the great diversity of exciting private enterprises, but that our growth, prosperity, and economic and social wellbeing will increasingly depend on business and government working together effectively. Neither sector can operate independently of the other, and success depends on respectful cooperation to achieve a common goal.
Government needs a strong business sector to provide the goods, services, and employment opportunities that make Canberra an attractive place to live and work. Business needs government to create an operating environment that supports investment and growth, and a sound fiscal position that minimises increases in taxes and charges that can make business uncompetitive.
The need for stronger cooperation is even more pronounced given the uncertainties that recent events have created. Local conditions are being set by unpredictable and unprecedented national and global events outside the control of governments – the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Pacific and Taiwan, the COVID-19 pandemic, or extreme weather conditions. We also face an environment of increasing competition for skilled people, investment, and business.
As we drive a new era of pride in the nation’s capital, we need to reshape engagement. We should maximise both private and public sector expertise and networks for co-design and joint problem-solving. We must create structures for engagement and consultation that put the right people at the table, allowing the business community and government to both address the challenges ahead and collectively capitalise on opportunities to drive our city’s prosperity.
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