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Policy
Policy Platform 2010-11

This platform is a plan for redressing and removing the causes of social injustice in our community.

It is a tool for good government, a contract between our Party and the people. It shows people what they can expect of us and sets the standards for our work.

Labor will not stand still: we will continue to seek better ways of building a fairer society.

ACT Labor Platform 2010-2011PDF

 

Recent Policy Announcements:

New North Canberra Hospital moves a step closer
Written by ACT Labor
Friday, 10 February 2012 19:29

UC announced as preferred site for new north side hospital

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, has released the report on possible sites for a new north Canberra sub-acute hospital, which identifies the University of Canberra as the preferred site.

"This Government is planning for the future and making record investments in all aspects of health care," the Chief Minister said.

"This is an exciting project as it will be the first time that the ACT has had a specialised sub-acute hospital.

"The new hospital will enable sub-acute services to be provided in a purpose built, contemporary facility with the focus on these services, without the pressure created by emergency care needs," the Chief Minister said.

"If the UC site was to be selected for the new hospital, the potential benefits to the University, the Government and the broader community could be significant, by attracting more students to Canberra and providing recruitment and training opportunities for our health workforce.

"I am determined to ensure that the investments we make deliver broader economic benefits to the Canberra community by creating linkages with business, industry and educational facilities. This will help us to continue to work towards delivering a truly strong knowledge-based city," the Chief Minister said.

The Report on Site Selection for the New North Canberra Sub-Acute Hospital identifies four potential sites including the Calvary Hospital Campus, the University of Canberra, Gungahlin Town Centre, and Block 12 Section 78 Nicholls.

The report assesses the four sites against a range of criteria including size, topography, environment and heritage, access to facilities such as other hospitals, transport, compatibility with the Territory Plan, and opportunity costs.

When assessed against the selection criteria, the University of Canberra has been identified as the best site for a new hospital. The main benefits of UC include the available land, the proximity of the site to Calvary Hospital, and the collocation with the Faculty of Health (Nursing and Allied Health) which could assist the ACT with training and recruitment of our workforce and provide opportunities for collaboration and research.

"The ACT Government has already invested upwards of $600 million in new state-of-the-art health and hospital facilities. Right now we have a new Women's and Children's Hospital, two new community health centres in Belconnen and Gungahlin, an adult mental health unit, and a new cancer centre all under construction," the Chief Minister said.

"Further work is now underway around the scope of the project, financing options, design of the hospital and environmental analysis. $4 million was allocated through the 2011-12 ACT Budget to progress this work."

The Report is available to the public on the ACT Health Directorate websitewww.health.act.gov.au/northsidehospital. Feedback can be provided by emailing  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it until Friday 2 March 2012 prior to a final decision being taken by the ACT Government.

Extra money for services and maintenance
Written by ACT Labor
Friday, 10 February 2012 19:27

Fund to deliver $22 million benefit for all Canberrans

The Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Katy Gallagher, and the Deputy Chief Minister and Treasurer, Andrew Barr, today announced the Government will inject an extra $22 million into maintaining and upgrading the urban amenity of Canberra in the next Territory Budget.

The ACT Labor Government will establish an Urban Improvement Fund in the next ACT Budget, with funding to come directly from the Lease Variation Charge (LVC).

"Canberra is a great place to live, and we already enjoy a very high standard of living. I know that Canberrans share a great sense of pride in the look and feel of our city," the Chief Minister said.

"The ACT Labor Government already provides record levels of funding, that goes directly to improving and maintaining our local spaces and places. In 2011-12 alone, $120 million will be spent on municipal services and local infrastructure upgrades.

"This fund will mean an extra $22 million in 2012-13 for more parks and playgrounds, more mowing, more shopping centre upgrades, better footpaths and more repairs to roads," the Chief Minister said.

Mr Barr said it is only right that the money received from developers – who are profiting from Canberra’s liveability – is put directly back into the community.

"The ACT Labor Government recognises the important contribution that is made by developers through their building of housing and commercial developments. But it is also fair that when they make large profits from varying the lease on their land for development - making it more valuable - that the community also benefits.

"I expect developers to also benefit from the improved amenity of our city and should acknowledge that their contribution will now go directly to improving the very city they choose to invest in.

"The Government has forecast $22 million to be received from developers this year – $5.9 million has already been received and another $15.5 million is expected this financial year. This money will now go directly to improving our city in the next Budget," Mr Barr said.

The Chief Minister said that the ACT Labor Government was working hard to ensure Canberrans continue to enjoy a very high standard of living.

"This announcement will see the returns from development reinvested back into the community – it’s fair, it’s focused and it benefits everyone," the Chief Minister concluded.

Exciting step forward as sites identified for new North Canberra Hospital

Everyone has an interest in Health – whether you’re trying to stay healthy, managing a health condition, or caring for a loved one who’s unwell. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to invest in our public health services and plan new, contemporary facilities that enable our dedicated health workforce to deliver the best possible care – care that is appropriate for the 21st century.

Some of our health facilities are now a bit tired, others don’t suit the latest ways of providing health care. In response to this, we have invested upwards of $600 million in rebuilding our health and hospital system. There’s more to come on our Health Infrastructure Program (watch this space), but did you know that right now we’re building a dedicated Women’s and Children’s Hospital, a Cancer Centre, a new adult mental health unit, and new community health centres in Belconnen and Gungahlin? No other ACT Government has ever delivered this magnitude of investments in our health system.

It certainly takes time to see the vision become a reality – from the initial idea, through to the planning stages, the design, community engagement and finally construction, but ultimately our community will enjoy state of the art, high-tech facilities that are more comfortable.

The next step is a new sub-acute hospital in Canberra’s north. This hospital won’t replicate all the services offered at Calvary Public Hospital or Canberra Hospital, but will instead provide what’s known as ‘sub-acute’ care – these are the hospital services that help improve a patient’s quality of life or mobility, perhaps following surgery, or involving rehabilitation. For the first time, the ACT will have a dedicated, specialised hospital for these services without the pressure created by emergency care needs. This will also allow us to move some services out of our two ‘acute’ hospitals, freeing up beds and giving us the space to expand services there. When it’s built, the ACT will have a network of three hospitals, each with clearly delineated roles.

I was excited today to see our planning take another step forward. Today I released an options paper on possible sites for this new hospital and toured one of the sites (SEE PHOTO) – the University of Canberra at Bruce with Vice Chancellor Stephen Parker. The Government has been working hard to identify possible sites for the hospital and has narrowed the search down to four options – Calvary Hospital, UC, Gungahlin Town Centre, Block 12 Section 78 Nicholls. These sites have been assessed against a range of criteria including size, topography, environment and heritage, access to facilities such as other hospitals, transport, compatibility with the Territory Plan, and opportunity costs. When assessed against the selection criteria, the University of Canberra has been identified as the best site with the main benefits being the available land, the proximity of the site to Calvary Hospital, and the collocation with the Faculty of Health (Nursing and Allied Health) which could assist the ACT with training and recruitment of our workforce as well as provide opportunities for collaboration and research. If the UC site was to be selected, the potential benefits to the University, the Government and the broader community could be significant, by attracting more students to Canberra and providing recruitment and training opportunities for our health workforce.

For me what’s most important, given no government has unlimited resources, is to ensure that the investments we make deliver broader economic benefits to the Canberra community – beyond those that come from constructing a building. By pusuing collaborations with business, industry and the education sector we can continue to work towards delivering a truly strong knowledge-based city.

The next steps for the new hospital involve completing environmental studies on the sites, the design, services planning, and financing options, prior to any final decision being taken by the Government. If you’re interested in having a look at the report, jump on to the Health website www.health.act.gov.au/northsidehospital

ACT Labor to expand Nurse-led Walk-in Centres to Belconnen and Tuggeranong
Written by ACT Labor
Monday, 12 December 2011 12:50

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher announced today that a re-elected Labor Government will expand the nurse-led Walk-in Centre model to Belconnen and Tuggeranong.

“The ACT Labor Government has worked hard to deliver innovative solutions in health care. In May 2010, this Government opened Australia’s first ever public nurse-led Walk-in Centre at Canberra Hospital,” Ms Gallagher said.

“Since then, the Centre has treated more than 15,000 people, filling a gap in the delivery of free, extended hours health care in Canberra.

“For some families, the cost of accessing after-hours health services is a significant burden when faced with an unexpected accident, illness or injury. Low bulk billing rates also add to that pressure, so the Walk-in Centre has filled a gap for some people.

“ACT Labor believes that the Walk-in Centre model would work well within other community settings by making free, high quality primary health care services more available for minor illnesses and injuries.

“That’s why we’re committing today to double funding for Walk-in Centres and expand this service to Belconnen and Tuggeranong,” Ms Gallagher said.

A re-elected Labor Government will provide an additional $10 million over four years to support the expansion of services, as well as a further $5 million towards potential capital costs.

“Most people presenting with minor illnesses and injuries do not need to be treated on a hospital campus and we are committed to providing  services close to where people live,” Ms Gallagher said.

“This will mean that people living in the north and south of Canberra will be able to more easily access this highly skilled nursing service without having to travel too far.”

ACT Labor is committed to working with local GPs, nurses, the ACT Medicare Local and consumers to develop the preferred model and the establishment of these centres in 2013.


Popular Mawson Park and Ride expanded
Written by ACT Labor
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 00:00

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Simon Corbell, today reminded residents in Canberra's south that additional facilities are now available at the recently expanded Park and Ride in Mawson to cope with its increasing popularity.

"Bike and Ride, and Park and Ride facilities were launched in Mawson on Athllon Drive in January 2010 providing 97 parking spaces and 18 secure bike lockers," Mr Corbell said.

"From the day it opened, Park and Ride opportunities at Mawson has been in high demand with the free car park often reaching full capacity before 8.30 am on weekdays.

"In response, the ACT Government has invested $550,000 to double the capacity of the car park providing an additional 90 parking spaces. This funding also includes the provision of a new bike storage cage that can hold up to 24 bikes at a time.

"Ten of the existing bicycle lockers at Mawson have been relocated to areas in Canberra where demand for lockers is high, including the new Park and Ride facility on Flemington Road in Mitchell."

"The Mawson facility is just a short walk from the local shops and is located next to the Athllon Drive bus stop. Buses service this route every five minutes during peak periods and every 10 minutes during off-peak times."

Mr Corbell encouraged Canberrans to use the many Park and Ride and Bike and Ride facilities which provide increased travel options for people to and from work, school and home.

"Park and Ride and Bike and Ride facilities provide people with the opportunity to park their car for free or secure their bike in a locker or cage, and catch a bus for the rest of their journey to work," Mr Corbell said.

"We now have 13 Park and Ride facilities in the ACT located in Tuggeranong, Woden, Belconnen and now in Gungahlin on Flemington Road. Bike and Ride facilities are available at several of these locations.

"Bike and Ride facilities have made combining a bike ride with your bus trip easy, environmentally friendly and a healthy way to get around the city. I encourage southside residents to make use of the additional facilities in Mawson."

Investigations are currently underway to construct more park and ride facilities within Gungahlin.

New $1.7 million Tuggeranong Seniors Centre opens

Written by ACT Labor
Friday, 18 November 2011 00:00

A new community centre for older Canberrans located in the heart of Tuggeranong was officially opened today by ACT Minister for Community Services Joy Burch.

"The ACT Government is investing significant resources to ensure older residents have the services and facilities they deserve including new social housing and community facilities,"
Ms Burch said.

"The new Tuggeranong Seniors Centre will provide a place where people can come to have a chat, learn a new hobby or pick up some new skills. Perhaps most importantly, it is somewhere to meet friends and reduce the risk of feeling isolated."

Ms Burch said the centre delivered on a 2008 Election promise by ACT Labor, and as the member for Brindabella she was proud of her Government's record.

Among the activities available at the new centre will be jazzercise, Tai Chi, digital photography, bush and lake walks and carpet bowls.

It will be managed by the Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club which, along with Communties@Work, provided input into the design of the centre. In addition, Tuggeranong Community Council and Lake Tuggeranong College were among those consulted during the project.

"This centre is in an ideal location in Tuggeranong town centre for older residents with good transport links and shops and other amenities nearby.

"The views over the lake will provide pleasant distractions and the proximity to an education and care centre will give people the chance to mingle with the younger generations."

It also represented a genuine community effort, with the donation of a large screen television from the Good Guys Tuggeranong and tables and chairs from Bunnings Tuggeranong.

Additional funding to support our GPs and attract new ones to Canberra

Written by ACT Labor
Tuesday, 15 November 2011 10:47

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher has announced an additional $942,790 in funding for thirty successful new projects from the fourth round of the GP Development Fund.

The General Practice Development Fund is one of the five initiatives within the GP Workforce Program - a package of $12 million over four years which aims to support and expand the ACT’s general practice workforce.

“This additional funding will further support our aim to promote innovative ideas that will attract GPs to Canberra, support both new and established general practices, and enhance the provision of primary health care services to the Canberra Community,” the Chief Minister said.

“This funding encompasses infrastructure enhancements to general practices in Tuggeranong, Woden Valley, the inner South, the City, the inner North and Belconnen; assists GPs who will be relocating to work in Canberra, and provides teaching and learning opportunities for all levels of general practice staff.”

Walking and cycling projects receive green light
Written by ACT Labor
Tuesday, 08 November 2011 00:00

Walkers and cyclists in Canberra are set to benefit from a $9 million injection of funds for seven new walking and cycling infrastructure projects, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Simon Corbell, announced today.

"These projects have been identified in a review that looked at ways to improve the ACT's walking and cycling networks between town and employment centres," Mr Corbell said.

"A working group, which includes representatives from key cycling and walking groups, provided advice to the Government on projects that should be funded in this round of infrastructure upgrades.

"Having a good network of bike and walking paths is crucial to encourage more Canberrans to consider using alternative modes of transport."

The funded projects include:

  • The City cycle loop;
  • Kings Avenue on-road cycle lane and off-road cycle path improvements;
  • accessibility improvements to walking infrastructure in the main town centres (Woden, Tuggeranong, Belconnen and Gungahlin) benefitting visually and mobility impaired people; and
  • interim off-road footpath improvements at Kingston Foreshore;
  • further examination of converting sections of Bunda Street in the City and Hibberson Street in Gungahlin to ‘shared spaces' of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers;
  • construction of a missing link between the shared paths along Tuggeranong Parkway and Melrose Drive near Chifley and,
  • the provision of cycling facilities along both sides of Yamba Drive between Yarra Glen and The Canberra Hospital.

Mr Corbell said the ACT Government recognised the importance of improving walking and cycling connections in order to achieve a more sustainable transport system across the ACT.

"To ensure the Government continues to improve walking and cycling facilities to meet the needs of the community, an annual survey of pedestrians and cyclists will take place in each of the Town Centres as part of this program," Mr Corbell said.

"The ACT Government aims to increase walking and cycling to make up 14% of all journeys to work by 2026 and these projects will be crucial in meeting this objective."

The final Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Report is available online at http://www.tams.act.gov.au/

ACT to welcome more nurses
Written by ACT Labor
Thursday, 03 November 2011 00:00

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, today welcomed nursing graduates who'll be among the 120 students employed by the Health Directorate as part of the 2012 Graduate Nurse Program.

The Chief Minister attended the Graduate Nurse Program Open Day where Health nursing staff and Registered and Enrolled Nurses who'll commence in next year's highly regarded graduate program can learn more about the diverse range of career pathways available to them.

"Positions in our well-established and successful Graduate Nurse Program are highly sought-after with applications received from across Australia and overseas," the Chief Minister said.

"This year 88 graduates were placed across the ACT Health system while next year we expect to offer employment opportunities for up to 120 nursing graduates with intakes scheduled for February, May and August.

"In the most recent evaluation of the Graduate Nurse Program, 99 percent of graduates said they would recommend the program to others in the future, and participants reported they felt "very supported," would "highly recommend to all", "extremely satisfied with the ACT Health Graduate Nurse Program", and commented that "the support was excellent".

"Graduate nurse programs are a critical part of our recruitment and retention strategies, and represent a good return on investment," the Chief Minister said.

The Graduate Nurse Programs provide clinical and professional support, feedback, learning and development opportunities for nursing graduates over a twelve month period. The programs provide clinical placement options in a wide variety of clinical areas including local and national high priority areas such as mental health, aged care and critical care services. They focus on every facet of the graduate experience, providing support, learning and development for graduates as they make the transition from student nurse to Registered or Enrolled Nurse.


The Open Day showcases the excellent facilities graduate nurses can expect from a leading teaching hospital and at the same time provides an opportunity to interact with professionals already working in the sector and seek advice about their careers.

 

ICT advancements for ACT schools
Written by ACT Labor
Thursday, 03 November 2011 00:00

The ACT Labor Government continues to work to ensure all ACT students are prepared for life and work in the 21st century, by ensuring students have access to high quality ICT equipment and education.

A highlight of the ACT Directorate of Education and Training’s Annual Report 2010-11, is the completion of a number of important information technology projects across ACT public schools in 2010-11 – some of which include:

  • Wireless networks installed in all 84 ACT public schools and colleges,
  • achieving a ratio of 1:1 in students to computers throughout years 9 to 12 in all ACT public schools, and
  • the successful implementation of the new virtual learning environment, Connected Learning Communities (cLc).

The cLc provides opportunities for learning previously unavailable to teachers and students. It incorporates podcasting, video conferencing, a digital portfolio and video on demand functions – and also allows parents to be more involved with their children’s learning, with a parent portal.

Another highlight of the annual report is the completion and commencement of a number of major public school infrastructure projects. These include the opening of two new schools, Gungahlin College and Namadgi School, and the commencement of construction of Harrison Secondary School.

2010-11 also seen the the completion of all the Federal Labor funded Building the Education Revolution (BER) projects in the ACT, on time and on budget. The ACT was the first jurisdiction in the country to complete all BER projects.

The completion of these important information technology and capital works projects in ACT public schools is yet another example of ACT Labor’s commitment to ensure our students emerge from school with the skills they need to live productive and happy lives in the 21st century.

Construction begins on $44.6 million Capital Region Cancer Centre

Written by ACT Labor
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 00:00

Cancer patients in the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding regions of New South Wales are set to benefit further from national health reforms, as construction begins on the $44.6 million Capital Region Cancer Centre.

The new Centre will comprise over 5,000 square metres of floor space across five levels to expand services currently provided at the Canberra Hospital, including ambulatory, medical oncology, cancer psychosocial, rehabilitation, clinical haematology and immunology as well as teaching and research facilities.

The total value of the Capital Region Cancer Centre is $44.6 million, with the Gillard Government contributing $27.9 million and the ACT Government contributing $16.7 million. The Gillard Government has also provided a further $1.8 million to the ACT to provide specialist accommodation in the Canberra suburb of Duffy for patients using the Cancer Centre.

Turning the first sod on the Cancer Centre project today, Minister for Health and Ageing NicolaRoxon and ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said the Centre was another example of the Australian and ACT Governments working together to deliver better health services where they are needed most.

"Reducing people's chance of getting cancer, and treating it earlier and more effectively, are key priorities for the Gillard Government through national health reform," Minister Roxon said.

"When the Capital Region Cancer Centre opens, it will service around half a million people across the ACT and surrounding regions of New South Wales.

"This Centre means that more working families in the ACT and surrounding regions will have access to world-class, comprehensive screening, assessment, diagnostic, treatment and palliative care services."

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said the new Centre shows what can be achieved for the Canberra community when both governments work together.

"The ACT Government is grateful for the Federal Government's support which complements the work we are doing to rebuild our health and hospital system," the Chief Minister said.

"The ACT Government is investing more than a billion dollars in health infrastructure to prepare for the future health needs of this city and cope with ever increasing demands for care. Cancer is one of these areas that will need to grow each year.

"When completed in late 2013, the new cancer centre will improve cancer treatment in the ACT by drawing together and integrating cancer services including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, haematology, immunology, and research and teaching programs within a single five-storey building on the Canberra Hospital campus," the Chief Minister said.

The Capital Region Cancer Centre was one component of a $560million program to improve access to cancer services and support in regional areas of Australia, and is part of a $2 billion Australian Government initiative to build a world-class cancer care system.

Better childcare for ACT families under new national laws
Written by ACT Labor
Tuesday, 25 October 2011 00:00

Canberra families will receive a better standard of childcare for their children under new national laws that come into effect from next year, ACT Minister for Community Service Joy Burch.

The ACT Legislative Assembly today passed the Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Bill 2011, which implements the National Quality Framework agreed to by all Australian governments.

The new laws aim to raise the quality of care to children in early childhood, as well as outside school hours care services.

"The new standards will ensure that every child will have greater interaction with better qualified staff to help them learn and develop," Ms Burch said.

"The ACT Labor Government is committed to ensuring the transition to these reforms is as smooth as possible for childcare providers, which is why we have been working closely with the sector to support them through these changes."

Ms Burch yesterday announced eight childcare centres which will share in $9.2 million in capital upgrades to allow them to expand. The 2011-12 ACT Budget also included a scholarship program to help existing staff attain higher qualifications.

"The ACT Government has been working with the sector to ensure a smooth transition to the new standards, including $60 million support package announced earlier this month through the ACT Budget.

"The ACT childcare sector is well placed to transition smoothly to the new standards. We already meets the new ‘educator to child ratio' outlined in the standards for children over two, and almost half of all service providers already meet the new ratio for children under two.

If passed, the National Quality Standard will come into effect in the ACT on 1 January 2012, and the new qualification standards will be phased in from 2014.

More affordable rental homes in North Canberra
Written by ACT Labor
Friday, 07 October 2011 00:00

Residents in North Canberra will have access to more affordable rental accommodation under the Gillard Government's National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

Andrew Leigh, Member for Fraser, welcomed the announcement of successful applications for NRAS round four which will deliver over 200 projects to build more than 17,000 properties for low to moderate income households to rent below market rate. "I know the cost of rent is a real pressure for families and students in Canberra”, Andrew Leigh said. “That’s why the Gillard Government is investing in addressing housing affordability to increase the supply of affordable rental properties. It’s important to ensure that there are affordable accommodation options for families as well as students so that living and studying in Canberra remains an attractive option.

“I am very pleased to welcome investment in these three projects. Community Housing Canberra, the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation and the University of Canberra have all successfully applied for funding for a range of different dwellings. Together, these projects will see the construction of more than 1500 dwellings around Canberra’s north side.

“Before Labor came to office there were no programs aimed at improving the availability of affordable rental properties.

Written by ACT Labor
Sunday, 02 October 2011 00:00

The ACT Labor Government has continued to increase the supply of land in Canberra with 5,048 new housing sites released last financial year, delivering new homes and supporting the jobs of 15,800 Canberrans in the construction industry.

Figures contained in the Land Development Authority’s (LDA) latest annual report shows the ACT Labor Government has exceeded land release targets for the fourth consecutive year.

The ACT Labor Government understands the need for Canberrans to have secure housing, whether it is through renting a home, or buying one and we are committed to increasing the opportunity for Canberrans to achieve this by increasing the supply of land for housing, particularly for low income earners.

Over the past three financial years, the ACT Labor Government has delivered over 13,000 sites for new homes.

Through a range of initiatives in the 2011-12 Budget, the ACT Labor Government continues to increase the supply of new housing, and over the next four years the ACT’s Land Release Program will deliver a further 18,500 new residential dwelling sites, of which 2,400 will be dedicated to affordable homes.

Land releases in 2010-11 totalled sites for 5,048 residential dwellings, compared with an original target of 5,000. Included are sites for single residential dwellings and multi-unit developments in ACT Government estates and joint ventures with developers. Also included are englobo releases – where developers are responsible for services and infrastructure.

Overall, almost 60 per cent of the total 2010-11 releases of residential land related to Gungahlin suburbs. Significant volumes of land were released in Bonner and on Flemington Road and through joint ventures at Forde and Crace. Releases from the new estate at Harrison Four also commenced during the year, with all sites in the estate released and sold.

Englobo releases occurred in Ngunnawal 2C – 475 dwellings, and Casey 4 – mixed use including up to 500 dwellings, with both sites selling.

Importantly, while these sites provide homes for Canberrans, the land supply strategy has also resulted in record levels of construction, and is a major contributor to the ACT economy, supporting the jobs of 15,800 Canberrans in the construction industry.