18 minute read
Political capital
Canberra Liberals clawing out of the grave
It’s six months since the October 2020 ACT election and the humiliating defeat handed to the Canberra Liberals. The electorate delivered them their sixth successive election loss, rubbing salt into the wound by throwing in a 3% swing against them after nearly 20 years in opposition.
Right now, the Liberals are taking stock. As they must; with so much ground to make up, the foundations for a win in 2024 must be laid now, not in the weeks leading up to the next election.
The size of the challenge can be measured with a few statistics. The Canberra Liberals are by far the most unsuccessful branch of a major party in the nation. In the last 20 years, there have been changes of government in every state and territory and federally – in some cases two – but not in Canberra. Not one government MLA in our Legislative Assembly has spent even a day in opposition, and not one opposition MLA has spent a day in government.
This is desperately sad for the Liberal Party. But it is also sad for everyone interested in an efficiently run territory. Benjamin Disraeli once said that “No government can long be secure without a formidable opposition”. It’s in all our interests that oppositions be able to threaten governments when elections come around, to keep them on their toes.
New opposition leader Elizabeth Lee has allowed the Liberal Party to hit the reset button. Canberrans who associate “Liberal” with middle-aged men in suits are having a double take when they see this young, articulate, Asian-born lawyer. Boosting her chances at the 2024 election will be the “It’s Time” factor (in fact, the 23 years the Liberals will have been opposition by then will match, almost to the day, the 23 years of Labor’s opposition that Whitlam ended in 1972).
But an appealing new salesperson taking on a government with cobwebs will not be enough, by itself, to ensure a conservative victory. This is because citizens of Canberra live in the shadow of the House on the Hill; they talk politics in the washroom and the supermarket queue the way other Australians talk about football and the weather. They have highly-attuned political antennae and look for substance and detail when listening to politicians.
And so, Lee will need policies in 2024 that speak convincingly to the values of Canberra citizens, values that are conspicuously more progressive than those found in residents of other states. The Liberal message of 2020 was about the cost of living, but Canberra people also care about other things: government intervention to ensure “fairness”, infrastructure spending, respect for minorities, and action on climate change.
She will also need to contend with an ACT Labor government with survival skills not matched by its sister branches elsewhere. One device which I predict it will deploy to survive in this term: hitting its own reset button by moving on Andrew Barr and promoting a woman in his place.
WITH GARY HUMPHRIES AO, FORMER ACT CHIEF MINISTER AND ACT SENATOR
MLAs unite to support Territory rights
In a rare show of cross-party cooperation, ACT Labor, Green, and Liberal politicians unanimously moved last week that the Federal Government restore Territory rights so the ACT can vote on voluntary assisted dying (euthanasia).
Tara Cheyne, Minister for Human Rights (Labor), Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury (Greens), and Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee called on the Federal Government to introduce and bring on for debate a bill to remove passages in the ACT (Self-Government) Act 1988 that prevent the ACT from passing laws permitting euthanasia.
These passages were introduced 24 years ago, through the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 (the ‘Andrews Bill’), which also prevents the NT from legislating on euthanasia.
Ms Cheyne called the Andrews Bill “cruel, needless, senseless legislation … which restricted our democratic freedoms; our democratic rights”.
Ten million Australians can access euthanasia, Ms Cheyne said. Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in Victoria, WA and Tasmania. Other states are debating or will debate euthanasia legislation this year.
“Through their parliaments, the vast majority of Australians will be able to participate in this important democratic process, simply by virtue of living in a state,” Ms Cheyne said. “But not citizens of the ACT. And not citizens of the Northern Territory.”
Mr Rattenbury called the situation “farcical”. The Federal Government had taken back legislature powers it granted the ACT at self-government, allowing it to legislate on everything except euthanasia: “One of the most important issues in their lives: the manner of their own death, their health and dignity, and that of their families and loved ones.”
He argued that the imposed restriction on the Territories’ independence was “simply the exercise of political power by people in Federal Parliament who either oppose voluntary euthanasia, or who are too scared of any political risk associated with supporting euthanasia. … They make a mockery of self-government, and they tell ACT citizens that they are second-class citizens, and less worthy than people living in the Australian states.”
Ms Lee agreed that the ACT Legislative Assembly should have the right to legislate on this matter on behalf of Canberrans, just as it had the right to legislate on other matters dealt with by State and Local Governments across Australia.
Comparing euthanasia to gay marriage, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said that change was inevitable; social reform was difficult in Australia, but took the work of many good people.
Ms Lee said euthanasia would be a conscience vote for her party. “The issue … is not an easy one. The Canberra Liberals acknowledge and respect the very diverse views on voluntary assisted dying in the ACT community.”
Ms Cheyne noted that the Federal Government has only once allowed the Bill to come on for debate by the Senate, in 2018. Although many Liberals voted against the motion – including ACT Senator Zed Seselja – so, the Canberra Liberals pointed out, did seven Federal Labor senators.
Senator Seselja has said he was open to discussing Territory rights, but not if put in the context of euthanasia.
Ms Lee said she had raised the matter with the Prime Minister and would continue to do so.
- Nick Fuller
Open Day 2021 Open Day 2021
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Six individuals and one group were celebrated for their efforts to make Canberra a better place at the Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards on Thursday 1 April.
ACT Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry, announced Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) CEO Kat Reed the overall winner for their work across community services and the arts, and their distinguished service to the LGBTIQ+ community.
Ms Berry said Mx Reed’s success at WWDACT demonstrated that young people can shine in high-level executive roles in the community sector.
“Mx Reed’s openness regarding their disability, being part of the LGBTIQ+ community and their background as a biracial person has created positive representation and shown that other young people like them can excel in leadership roles,” she said.
Mx Reed was appointed leader of the local advocacy and peer support organisation for women, girls, feminine-identifying and non-binary people with disability in November 2020.
In January, Mx Reed told Canberra Weekly their lived experience with mental health led to their involvement in disability advocacy.
“At the moment, people who are disabled aren’t seen as people who can lead,” Mx Reed said. “It’s one of those weird dichotomies where we’re seen as inspirational but also not qualified to be in positions of leadership in conventional ways.”
At WWDACT, Mx Reed works to create a supportive community and develop policy to end systemic disadvantage caused by discrimination based on gender and disability.
The Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards acknowledge people aged between 12 and 25 who make a significant contribution to their communities.
The full list of 2021 winners is as follows: Young Canberra Citizen of the Year: Mx Kat Reed; Young Achiever Award: Miss Skyler Pope; Personal Achievement Award: Mr Jacob Norris; Individual Community Service Award: Mr Jahin Tanvir;
Environment and Sustainability
Award: Mr Ngalan Gilbert; Arts and Multimedia Award: Mr Alexander Ding Wang; and Group Achievement Award: Kingsford Smith School Imaging Team.
Ms Berry thanked the
Women with Disabilities ACT CEO Kat Reed has been named the 2021 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year.
winners and nominees for their commitment, hard work and generosity in helping others.
“They are role models, not only to other young people, but to us all.” - Rosa Ritchie
Knee Arthritis and Pain Seminar
Is knee pain affecting your lifestyle and preventing you from enjoying daily activities?
Knee pain affects so many of us throughout our lives, especially as we age. Join leading orthopaedic knee surgeon Dr Brendan Klar for a free information seminar to discuss the state-of-the-art treatment strategies that are available at Canberra Knee Clinic.
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ACT road use ‘good and bad’ over Easter break
Unfortunately, the detection of 41 unregistered vehicles, 167 speeders, four drink drivers, and eight drug drivers represented a pretty “standard” Easter long weekend for ACT Policing.
With the “good news” being that no one was fatally harmed, police were concerned by the number of instances of illegal driving detected over the Easter break, from Thursday 1 to Monday 5 April.
“The best news was that no one died on our roads, again,” ACT Policing Detective Sergeant Bill Evans said.
Of the 167 motorists caught speeding, 14 were exceeding the limit by more than 30km/h.
“A driver was detected travelling 194km/h in an 80 zone on Yarra Glen … that’s just ridiculous,” Detective Sergeant Evans said. “Another driver detected travelling at 172km/h in an 80 zone on the Monaro Highway … 107km/h in a 60 zone on Caswell Drive.
“If you want to be selfish and do your own thing, go to a racetrack.”
Detective Sergeant Evans said the bulk of the speeding took place along Canberra’s major roads.
“Main arterials are always a problem,” he said. “With lighter traffic, people tend to boost it a bit more, go a bit faster because they think there’s no one around.”
Additionally, 41 unregistered vehicles were detected, of which 29 had no compulsory third party insurance, a “concerning” result for Detective Sergeant Evans.
A total of 68 drug screening tests were administered with eight returning a positive result for a prescribed drug.
“Since we introduced random drug testing, that’s skyrocketed a bit … mainly meth, that’s the main drug of choice for people who choose to drive,” Detective Sergeant Evans said.
Of 1,862 random breath tests conducted, four tested positive; one returning a blood alcohol content reading of 0.159, more than three times the legal limit.
“That’s a good result given the number of tests conducted, but it’s still four too many.”
According to ACT Policing, such results are “quite similar” to Easter long weekends of previous years.
“Most drivers are doing the right thing, but we are sharing our roads with some people who really just don’t get it.”
- Denholm Samaras
Plans to grow urban canopy
The ACT Government will plant almost half a million trees over the next quarter-century to ensure Canberra remains the bush capital, the Urban Forest Strategy 2021–2045, released on 30 March, revealed.
In 2015, forest canopy covered 19% of the ACT’s urban area, but the ACT Government wants to increase canopy to 30% by 2045.
In the fifth large-scale tree planting in Canberra’s history, more than 450,000 trees will be planted on public land over the next 25 years, 25,000 by 2023, and 9,000 this year alone, Minister for City Services Chris Steel said.
However, according to a Conservation Council/Monash University report, Canberra had the worst decline in green infrastructure of any Australian capital city: from 60% in 2013 to 35% last year.
Leanne Castley, Shadow Minister for the Environment, accused the Labor-Greens Government of being “all talk and no action”, saying “the significant reduction in urban vegetation across the ACT since 2013” has occurred under their watch. Find an extended version of this story online at canberraweekly.com.au
Grove celebrates Golden Wattle
The largest planting of Australia’s floral emblem, the Golden Wattle, has taken place to belatedly celebrate the 50th birthday of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
Hand grown by members of the Wattle Day Association, 40 Golden Wattles were planted in a grove in the Acacia Garden, joining 10 that were originally planted at the end of 2020.
Scientifically known as Acacia pycnantha, the Golden Wattle was officially proclaimed the floral emblem of Australia in 1988.
President of the Wattle Day Association, Dr Suzette Searle, said that all wattles are the perfect symbol for Australia and Australians.
“When the 50th anniversary came up for the Botanic Gardens, we thought what a wonderful gift it would be, the Golden Wattle for the golden anniversary,” she said.
“We were going to give them 50 Golden Wattles … In fact, they want 100 here.”
Dr Searle said the wattle has been a significant cultural symbol of Australia for more than a century.
“Golden Wattle has been symbol of Australia for more than a century from when it first appeared in a stylised form on our Commonwealth Coat of Arms in 1912 … Wattles are on our banknotes, wattles are appearing more frequently on our coins, wattles were the inspiration for the Order of Australia.
“It’s bit like it is in the bush; you don’t really realise it’s there until it springs forth in blossom.” - Erin Cross Find an extended version of this story and photos at canberraweekly.com.au
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CANBERRA CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRETHEATRE CENTRE SILVER IS GOLD SILVER IS GOLD
Concert Concert Concert Concert Thursday 29 April 2021, 12pm Thursday 29 April 2021, 12pm
Enjoy an afternoon of music conducted and curated by Enjoy an afternoon of music conducted and curated by Captain Shane Gillard from RMC Big Band especially Captain Shane Gillard from RMC Big Band especially for this event called Music of the Stage and Screen. for this event called Music of the Stage and Screen This wonderful performance will be performed by the . This wonderful performance will be performed by the RMC Big Band, which is made up of musicians from the RMC Big Band, which is made up of musicians from the Band of the Royal Military College- Duntroon. Band of the Royal Military College- Duntroon. Hear the big hits from your most loved musicals Hear the big hits from your most loved musicals including Westside Story and All that Jazz. Come and including Westside Story and All that Jazz. Come and experience an 18 piece band live as they play the Abba experience an 18 piece band live as they play the Abba medley and all your favourite Beatles songs. medley and all your favourite Beatles songs. Entry is free with a gold coin donation. Entry is free with a gold coin donation. All attendees will be required to register their details All attendees will be required to register their details prior to the performance with the Canberra prior to the performance with the Canberra Theatre Centre. Registration is FREE and is now open! Theatre Centre. Registration is FREE and is now open!Bookings can be made online or by phoning Canberra Theatre on 6275 2700
PRESENTED BY: ACT Chief Minister CATEGORY: Special Event
DURATION: Approximately 60 minutes, no interval SUIT CHILDREN?: This performance is suitable for children.
