2023-12-11
Today there’s been a shake-up of portfolios in the ACT Government, which comes with a few fresh opportunities for us Greens to make Canberra a place where everyone is able to life a healthy, fulfilling life in a way that cares for our planet.
Your Greens Member for Kurrajong, Rebecca Vassarotti, has had Parks and Conservation added to her Environment portfolio. This will enable a more comprehensive and cohesive approach to addressing environmental issues in the ACT and will enable Rebecca to build upon her achievements as Australia’s first Greens Minister for the Environment.
Your Greens Member for Murrumbidgee, Emma Davidson, will take on the new portfolio of Population Health, which will focus on improving health outcomes across our community in both physical and mental wellbeing. This complements Emma’s responsibilities as Minister for Mental Health. The Population Health portfolio includes preventative health, alcohol and other drugs programs, blood-borne viruses and e-cigarettes, taking a holistic approach to creating conditions for wellbeing.
Emma is positioned to further her advocacy in the Community Services sector, with the new title of Minister for Community Services, Seniors and Veterans. This portfolio maintains Emma’s responsibilities around carers, volunteers and adds community sector reform. Taking on responsibility for Corrections alongside Justice Health also places Emma in a better position to deliver a genuinely restorative justice system.
Emma has been a passionate and effective Minister for Disability and has championed fixing the NDIS to ensure that no one is left behind. Her strong performance is acknowledged by all of us, and importantly by disability advocates and services. We share her disappointment in having to hand over responsibility for the next phase of work, but as Greens we will continue working to empower people with disability to lead from their lived experience.
The Greens are committed to changing systems and attitudes so that people with disability are not limited by their society and physical environments. In the ACT we need to finalise and fund the ACT Disability Strategy and ensure the reforms to the NDIS are focused on the needs of the disability community.
Pressure works, and we Greens apply pressure at the Cabinet table, in the Legislative Assembly, and in the community with all of you. These ministerial portfolio changes are a clear vote of confidence in Greens in Government and they empower us to do further important work to look after the health of people and the planet.
Together we can change the pace of progress.