22 May 2011

Speech to Regional Development Australia ACT’s Canberra Leaders Consultative Forum

During the week, I was fortunate to have the opportunity of giving a speech on social inclusion, homelessness and housing affordability in the ACT. Here is the body of the speech:

We’re talking about social inclusion this afternoon and that requires a holistic perspective that traverses the landscape of individual experiences within an ever changing political, economic and social context.

Social inclusion is not a single action that Government should take, but rather a lens through which the structures and functions of governance should be viewed, decisions considered, and their impacts on vulnerable people understood. Such a lens encompasses all aspects of policy making from environmental planning, through economic development, to health, education and social policy.

To have policy makers see issues through the lens of social inclusion is an important step in redressing inequality and reducing disadvantage in our society.

Affordable housing itself is a right enshrined in several international conventions and is a necessity for a sustainable, inclusive and well-functioning community.

We know that we have significant challenges in achieving this aim here in the ACT given we had over 1,000 people recorded as homeless in the last census in 2006. In the past 5 years, the average property price in the ACT has grown from just on $400,000 to $550,000. The average year-on-year price for all residential properties to February 2011  was up 7.1%. Full time ordinary time earnings for the last 5 years were up 4.3%.

In order to look at future possibilities, we must first understand our past. In its early years Canberra’s housing was entirely government-built to house the many public servants that moved to the city. Unlike many other Australian cities, Government housing was dispersed across suburbs rather than concentrated in one area.

When responsibility for public housing switched to the ACT government in 1989, the stock of government houses in Canberra was already ageing. Planning at the time focused on quickly housing a rapidly growing workforce. Canberra has since matured with its own private housing however, the concentration of federal government employees on higher average wages than the rest of the nation has been one of the legacies that has contributed to the rising cost of housing.

There are other multiple factors that have contributed to the housing affordability crisis including: access to cheaper finance, the general cycle of long term economic growth, low unemployment rates, the demand for rental housing and associated increasing costs, changing patterns of employment & urban development, and broader economic, cultural and demographic drivers such as the move to smaller and more diverse families.

Changes in the labour market have had major impacts on housing costs & urban development, and in turn, a lack of affordable housing makes it more difficult – and therefore more costly – to recruit and retain employees. The availability of affordable housing plays a role in where businesses decide to build, relocate or expand their operations. From an employer’s perspective, a lack of affordable housing can certainly put the local economy at a competitive disadvantage.

There is also a risk of significant social and economic exclusion as a result of a lack of affordable housing. As our population ages, the challenge is to develop housing choices for people, providing flexibility as the need for support increases. Ageing women are particularly vulnerable as they generally have a lower degree of housing security and therefore choice of appropriate accommodation as they age.

Both the Federal and ACT Governments have increased their investment in affordable housing over the last few years. The introduction of the National Affordable Housing Agreement in 2009 initiated a whole of government approach in tackling the problem of housing affordability.

The Housing Affordability Fund is addressing holding costs for developers and the cost of infrastructure investment, targeting greenfields and infill development.

Locally, the Affordable Housing Action Plan has seen the release of more and more land, fast-tracking the approval process for greenfield sites, providing stamp duty concessions for eligible first home buyers, the introduction of the Land Rent Scheme and measures to ensure that 15% of new residential estates have house and land packages available below $300,000.

CHC Affordable Housing is delivering up to 1000 new properties for sale and rent, and new public housing stock is being developed for older Canberrans to provide a variety of options and locations, close to shops and transport, helping ease the demand on public housing for larger family homes.

But these measures in themselves still cannot address the needs of our burgeoning homeless population.

The Street to Home outreach program for rough sleepers run by St Vinnies has attracted significant government funding over the past year and a program that I am on the Board of, Common Ground Canberra has been provided $150,000 of funding in the 2011/12 ACT Budget to develop a feasibility study.

Common Ground Canberra is working closely with other service providers, government, and the community and business sectors to develop permanent, safe and supportive housing for those who are most vulnerable in our city and region. With a 50:50 split between homeless and low income workers, Common Ground will provide both a mechanism to help end homelessness in the ACT and to drive housing affordability by providing accommodation for those on low incomes. The buildings will have 24/7 concierge and a keycard security system, and will be architecturally modern and integrated with their local environment.

There is also a need for broader urban planning that reflects our changing demographics, and encourages a cultural shift to an acceptance of medium density housing, providing diversity and choice.

Changes to economic policy should encourage investment in affordable housing, while reducing tax distortions and increasing social and community housing run by the not-for-profit sector.

Larger organisations and businesses can also be encouraged to invest in affordable housing as a workforce strategy.

And it is that collaboration and partnership between government, the private and not-for-profit sectors that will provide the best chance of minimising our housing affordability challenges. There is a lead role for government to set the public policy framework, to release parcels of land, and provide a cohesive and efficient planning process with appropriate transparency, openness and community engagement, but it is with private and not-for-profit sectors that we look to, to drive supply and accessibility.

Finally, there is the question of our future population – on one hand we have the need to live sustainably within the constraints of our environment and infrastructure, and on the other the need for further growth to enhance the services expected by the community. Getting the balance right, and the associated demand generated by sustainable population management measures will be key to providing affordable housing for our growing community.

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Filed under Canberra, Homelessness, Housing, Housing Affordability, Social Justice

4 May 2011

Common Ground Canberra receives funding in ACT budget

ACT Treasurer Katy Gallagher has announced that Common Ground Canberra will receive $150,000 in funding for a feasibility study into the project. This is exciting news for our Board and supporters and reflects what I believe is a strong level of support across the community.

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Filed under Canberra, Homelessness

23 January 2011

Creation of a Canberra Centenary Poet Laureate

An Open Letter to the ACT Chief Minister, and Minister for the Arts and Heritage, Jon Stanhope.

Dear Chief Minister,

As we approach Canberra’s Centenary in just over two years, people are turning their attention to how we should celebrate the occasion. There has been discussion about hosting significant sporting matches, providing a focus on Canberra’s history with projects such as the Canberra Diaspora, and developing ideas that bring together innovation and sustainability.

Another way to recognise and celebrate the milestone is through the appointment of a Canberra Centenary Poet Laureate. As the Canberra 100 vision states:

All Australians proudly celebrate and share in the centenary of Canberra, our nation’s capital – the city that tells the story of our country’s freedom, spirit, achievements and aspirations.

What better way to recognise and record our beautiful city than by appointing one of our many fine poets as Centenary Poet Laureate to write of our land, our sense of place, our people and our culture.

Canberra and its region has a history of being home to or being associated with some of Australia’s finest poets including A. D. Hope, Judith Wright, Les Murray, Rosemary Dobson, David Campbell, Geoff Page, Susan Hampton, Mark O’Connor, Alan Gould and S. K. Kelen.

In recent years, the Canberra Poetry Slam has highlighted a strong performance poetry sub-culture in Canberra with Omar Musa winning the Slam and going on to win the Australian Poetry Slam in 2008. The Traverse Poetry Project in conjunction with The Front Cafe in Lyneham and the ACT Writers Centre continues with its goal of encouraging and developing young writers and has helped many new writers take the step from the desk to the stage.

There are many other countries, states and cities that have the position of a Poet Laureate including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, Wales, Ireland, Netherlands, Nigeria and the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In Scotland, there is both a Scots Makar and city Makars in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

The concept of a Centenary Poet Laureate would be threefold:

  • To mark the occasion of the centenary with a major poem that would be read and published as part of the celebration on 12 March 2013
  • To develop a suite of centenary poems over 2013 designed to capture Canberra, its land, people and culture for posterity; and
  • To promote Canberra locally, nationally and internationally through media and online engagement, and at arts festivals and events.

The appointment of a Centenary Poet Laureate would satisfy a number of the goals of Canberra 100, including to:

  • Increase the pride and ownership of Australians in their capital
  • Fully engage the community of Canberra, the Capital region, and the broader Australian community in the celebrations
  • Establish enduring international recognition of Canberra, and its role as the capital
  • Build the positive image and reputation of Canberra as a city and community; and
  • Build lasting legacies of community value through memorable celebrations and high quality projects.

A modest program allocation could be made to provide an honorarium to the appointed poet who would also receive much recognition and publicity for being selected for this prestigious role. If on review the post was seen to be a significant success, an ongoing appointment might be considered under a fixed term model.

The creation of the Canberra Centenary Poet Laureate would attract national and international attention and highlight the importance of the arts to Canberra and its future. It would also provide a literary snapshot of Canberra in 2013 which would be highly valued by future generations.

Yours sincerely,

David Mathews

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Filed under Arts & Culture, Canberra Centenary, Poetry

22 January 2011

What defines good political leadership?

I’ve recently taken to exploring Quora, a Q&A-based social media site that describes itself as “a continually improving collection of questions and answers created, edited, and organized by everyone who uses it. The most important thing is to have each question page become the best possible resource for someone who wants to know about the question.” The number of Quora users has exploded in the past few months and I will be interested to see how it beds down over the next year or two.

A few days ago, I posted the question: “What makes good political leadership?” I was doing research for a longer post I’m writing and wanted to know what answers other people would come up with. Soon someone had edited the question title (as you can allow or not as the case may be) to: What defines good political leadership? A tidy little change.

The responses are still coming in here.

I’ve copied and updated my response with links etc below:

I quite like Hugh White‘s succinct definition: “Weak politicians allow their policies to be dictated by public opinion. Political leadership changes public opinion to support good policy.”

My take is more based on analysis and execution. A good political leader must have the very best evidence-based policy, developed as it should be by listening to and analysing what I call the “perception circle”. However, he or she then requires the empathy, political strength and leadership to articulate and implement that policy in an inclusive and effective way that results in real positive change. If a policy is poorly executed through a failure of leadership, then it is as good as useless.

The perception circle is looking at a policy from all angles, seeing it through the eyes of multiple stakeholders and assessing the impact on people, communities, businesses and other areas of government. It helps to ensure that a positive change in one area does not have a serious negative impact on another group. It is related to but broader than the lens of social inclusion which I have written about previously on this blog.

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Filed under Politics

4 January 2011

New Canberra Housing Project hits the press

The Canberra housing proposal I have been working on hit the press over the break with a front page article in the Canberra Times and an editorial.

Our team of community and business people submitted a detailed business plan to the ACT Government just before Christmas and we’re working through the licensing requirements with Rosanne Haggerty in New York for the name “Common Ground Canberra”.

The aim of the project is:

To end homelessness in Canberra by developing permanent, high quality, supportive, safe housing for the most vulnerable homeless people.

With a capital cost of up to $22m, we will need all the support we can get from the community, various levels of government, the non-government sector and the business community. While our aim is relatively straightforward, the execution will be complex and take time to get right. Our first concern is with wide engagement with the community and the residents around St John’s in Reid where we have in-principle agreement to develop the project.

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Filed under Homelessness, Housing

5 December 2010

Building Sustainable Prosperity

What issues and ideas are most important to you?

What are your core principles and values?

I’ve been contemplating my responses to these questions over a long while and recently made an attempt to focus in one statement my core values and philosophy:

To develop an economic, social and environmental future for the Canberra community that builds sustainable prosperity; to share that prosperity equitably without impeding its development, sustainability or diversity; to ensure employment rights are enshrined as a core value of that prosperity, and to deliver inclusive social outcomes based on the fundamental tenets of respect and dignity for all, and early intervention programs for a life of wellbeing and learning.

I would suggest we cannot consider our economy, community or environment in isolation. In Canberra we have, at our heart, an ongoing prosperity in a range of areas including our general standard of living, education levels, academic and cultural institutions, community connections and lifestyle. Add to this our natural “bush capital” environment and we are a pretty lucky lot. But we also have a range of challenges such as population, global warming, burgeoning health services requirements, an ageing demographic, homelessness, distribution of resources across the region, urban development, transport etc. We need to ensure that our prosperity is available to be shared, and that we have macro and micro reforms in place to overcome or adapt to our current and future challenges.

Yet, we cannot share our prosperity effectively without being conscious of how we have achieved such advantages. We cannot develop our economy to the significant detriment of our local environment. We cannot ignore the importance of diversifying our economic base. We cannot cordon off economic and environmental outcomes without attention to building social and community capital.

Employment rights are also fundamental to our sustainable prosperity – we cannot say that we are truly prosperous unless everyone has a safe work environment; that people have reasonable remuneration, conditions and flexibility. That employers and employees operate in an effectively regulated workplace, while allowing business to generate investment and new jobs.

The way in which we deliver policies and programs is also critical to our future. I have written before about the lens of social inclusion – each policy being assessed against its potential to alienate a section of the community, to “keep all groups and individuals within reach of what we expect as a society”[1].

Respect and dignity are two fundamental principles that guide our future. If we cannot as a prosperous and inclusive city-state frame each social outcome so that respect and dignity is available to all citizens, then we have failed in our duty.

Finally, our prosperity should be based not on our reaction to circumstance, but on a proactive approach, developing preventative programs for education and wellbeing. Research and experience from other jurisdictions show that very early education has a significant positive impact on the outcomes for children throughout their lives, including their intellectual, social, physical, emotional and creative capacity. Similarly with the mental and physical health of our community, government expenditure in preventative programs has a marked impact on the health outcomes of individuals and the budgets for reactive health services.

Footnote:
In 2008 I stood for the electorate of Molonglo emphasising an approach to the development of sustainable prosperity, early childhood education, balance, and a focus on dignity & respect. The term “sustainable prosperity” has been used by a range of groups over the past few years. Ross Garnaut said in 2007 his review would examine “the impacts of climate change on the Australian economy, and recommended medium to long-term policies and policy frameworks to improve the prospects for sustainable prosperity.” Australian futurist Dr Peter Ellyard released his book “Designing 2050: Pathways To Sustainable Prosperity On Spaceship Earth” in 2007. At Harvard University,  The Center for International Development aims to “generate shared and sustainable prosperity in developing economies” while in Canada, a think tank called Sustainable Prosperity is looking at market-based mechanisms to “build a stronger, greener economy”.

[1] Power and Wilson , 2000

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Filed under Economic Development, Environment, Progressive Business, Sustainable Prosperity

28 November 2010

Expanding the borders of the ACT

I’ve had a bit of a hiatus from this site since the federal election, busy with family, work, and community & industry pursuits. But lately I’ve been thinking about the future of Canberra – the Canberra 2030 consultation has given us an opportunity to reflect on where we want the city to be in 20 years.

A number of people have suggested both on the Canberra 2030 site and elsewhere that we should simply increase the size of our borders and take in the surrounding areas, theoretically removing problems associated with water, transport, education, health management etc, and the associated flow of revenue and expenditure.

When you look at the Constitution, it does seem possible – Section 125 says that the seat of Government:

“…shall be determined by the Parliament, and shall be within territory which shall have been granted to or acquired by the Commonwealth, and shall be vested in and belong to the Commonwealth, and shall be in the State of New South Wales, and be distant not less than one hundred miles from Sydney.

Such territory shall contain an area of not less than one hundred square miles, and such portion thereof as shall consist of Crown lands shall be granted to the Commonwealth without any payment therefor.”

But then it gets complicated. Other sections of the Constitution would be affected. Section 123 says that:

The Parliament of the Commonwealth may, with the consent of the Parliament of a State, and the approval of the majority of the electors of the State voting upon the question, increase, diminish, or otherwise alter the limits of the State, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed on, and may, with the like consent, make provision respecting the effect and operation of any increase or diminution or alteration of territory in relation to any State affected.

So in principle, we could expand the borders if the federal government acquired additional land from NSW, if the NSW Parliament agreed, if the voters of NSW approved and if the Commonwealth didn’t have to pay for the acquisition. As long as the border didn’t stray past a bit north of Marulan, we’d be right.

Finally, just for good measure, it would also appear possible to change the ACT into a State, but again only with express approval of the Federal and NSW Parliaments. Section 124 says:

A new State may be formed by separation of territory from a State, but only with the consent of the Parliament thereof, and a new State may be formed by the union of two or more States or parts of States, but only with the consent of the Parliaments of the States affected.

So while it is theoretically possible to expand the borders of the Territory, the likelihood is more than remote – we need to instead focus on how we can best ensure that the Canberra community is not disadvantaged by the city’s twin role as both the national and regional capital.

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Filed under ACT Government, Canberra, Commonwealth-State Relations, Government

21 August 2010

Election Day – your future, your choice

It’s election day and while some pundits have been claiming the campaign as uninspiring and lacking vision, I am convinced our choice today is critical for Australia’s future. As I said in a speech last Monday at the Australian Christian Lobby Public Forum:

“I believe the decision we make on Saturday has very important implications for how we want to see Australia in the future, the future we want for our children and grandchildren.

At the heart of the election is a set of fundamental values. Do we want to take Australia forwards with a vision for a secure economic future? With better hospitals and schools? An Australia where there is no Workchoices? An Australia where we can take care of people, and respect people’s views and the right to present those views in an engaged democracy?

There is a stark choice in this election. On one hand you have Julia Gillard who has a better plan for a stronger economy with the budget back into surplus by 2013, or no economic plan from Mr Abbott and the Coalition, and who present a risk to our economic future.

There is a stark choice on health and education – we can have more nurses and better hospitals, or go backwards with Mr Abbott’s cuts to health.

A stark choice on education – where there are more opportunities for our children, more apprentices to help drive our skills needs, or go backwards with Mr Abbott’s cuts to education.

And there is a stark choice on jobs, and particularly in the Canberra region. Labor has a clear track record in providing relatively stable staffing levels in the Australian Public Service, with an increase of 3.2% projected over 3 years.

“Labor is committed to maintaining service levels, unlike Mr Abbott who is determined to cut services.

The Coalition have said they will cut 12,000 public sector jobs by “natural attrition”. And when you look at the estimated cuts in a range of government agencies, you see the potential impact on the delivery of services and Canberra’s economy.

Now Mr Humphries will say that very few of these cuts will be made in Canberra. But we know the effect of the Coalition’s slash and burn tactics. They have form. They have a track record. In 1996, John Howard said he would cut 2,500 jobs by natural attrition. And yet a few years later, over 30,000 people had lost their jobs, house prices in Canberra had plummeted and many businesses went broke. Our local economy is heavily dependent on the federal public service. And it is those flow-on effects that seriously worry me, both in direct terms and as a local business owner and employer.

Make no mistake, this is an important election for this region and for Australia. We have the opportunity to elect a Labor government that will take our country forward, a government that will provide a strong and secure economy and first-class services in health and education. A government that will create better opportunities for the future.”

Please think of our future with the choice you have today and vote Labor.

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Filed under Politics, The Nation

20 August 2010

ACT Labor Candidates pledge their support for our public servants

What is important to our Public Servants in this Federal election?
• Ensuring that the APS has quality jobs and provides quality services
• Genuine negotiations on pay and conditions
• Restoration of fair workers’ compensation rights
• Access and training for workplace delegates.

Today in Canberra all ACT ALP Candidates have signed the CPSU election pledge on these issues.

Proper funding for public services and jobs including ABC, SBS and CSIRO
• Recognition of the importance of the public provision of services
• Proper funding to deliver quality essential services and quality public policy, foster innovation, achieve best practice and provide secure employment in a career public service.
• No arbitrary recruitment freeze that affects services, workloads and career
opportunities.
• Keeping Medibank Private in public ownership

Genuine negotiations on pay and conditions
• A commitment to a clear timetable on negotiations to address the complexity,
pay gaps, bottle necks and silos the current bargaining system has created is
needed now.
• The opportunity to negotiate on all matters that affect pay and conditions rather
than important conditions being decided without any say from those effected.

Restoration of fair workers compensation rights
• While we welcome the Government’s commitment to restore workers’
compensation coverage for off-site recess breaks these and other improvements
to claim determination and employee consultation have yet to be legislated.
Rights to coverage for travel to and from work should also be restored.

Access and training for workplace delegates
• The role of the workplace delegate is critical to fairness at work, to driving a
collaborative approach to public sector reform, and to constructive workplace
relations. We want development of the skills, knowledge and facilities needed to
undertake this critical role supported.

AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALP, 5, 9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT.

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6 August 2010

Humphries getting desperate defending Abbott’s 12,000 job cuts

This morning, Senator Kate Lundy, Gai Brodtmann Labor Candidate for Canberra, Andrew Leigh Labor Candidate for Fraser and I put out the following media release:

Senator Humphries is getting desperate in an attempt to distract from the Liberal’s plan to cut 12,000 public sector jobs and plunge our regional economy and local communities into a recession.

Federal Labor has made unprecedented investment in the ACT over the last three years in health, education, social housing, community infrastructure, restoration of funding for our universities and a stable public service.

Tony Abbott and Gary Humphries would take Canberra backwards with a plan to cut 12,000 public service jobs, placing the whole ACT economy at risk of recession which would reverberate to the region.

“When Senator Humphries and Tony Abbott say natural attrition they mean cuts. Howard said natural attrition in 1996 and as soon as he was elected he retrenched over 30,000 public servants, we saw departure lounges in every department and the morale of the Public Service was down to an all time low. Natural attrition means retrenchment and Senator Humphries should stop trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Canberrans as they can see through his shallow claims,” Senator Lundy said.

“With the Liberals promising they will cut 12,000 public service jobs, Senator Humphries cannot claim that not one public servant will lose their job – that is blatantly untrue and he knows it. Senator Humphries should stop making promises he cannot keep.”

The Liberals have planned for Canberra:

  • Cut $8.4 million to our emergency departments (5 August 2010)
  • Cut $1.183 billion to the bureaucracy severely affecting services and putting public service jobs at risk (20 July 2010)
  • Cut the Trades Training Centre (1 June 2010)
  • Cut computers in schools (19 May 2010)
  • Cut e-health (19 May 2010)
  • Cut the Productivity Places Program (19 May 2010)
  • Cut the Smarter Schools Teacher Quality program (19 May 2010)
  • Cut reforms to the Public Service (19 May 2010)
  • Cut 12,000 public service numbers (13 May 2010)
  • A revival to the worst aspects of WorkChoices (13 May 2010)
  • Cut spending by $10 billion (27 April 2010)
  • Cut the National Broadband Network (27 April 2010)
  • Cut the Building Education Revolution (10 April 2010)
  • Cut 5,000 public services jobs in health and education (1 April 2010)

AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALP, 5, 9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT

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