In my second term (2020-2024), I served across the arts, business, regulatory reform, multicultural affairs and human rights portfolios. During this time, I delivered a range of important projects for Canberrans including:
Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy
✅ Released and commenced work on a Statement of Ambition for the Arts for Canberra to become recognised as Australia’s Arts Capital, including:
- Delivered a new ACT Arts, Culture and Creative Policy in partnership with the ACT arts community
- Delivered a new ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program Framework with the ACT arts community
- Announced funding outcomes under the ACT Arts Organisation Investment Program, including three new Emerging Arts Organisations
✅ Upgraded arts facilities across Canberra, including Belconnen Arts Centre, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra Potters and The Street Theatre.
✅ Progressed work on the Canberra Theatre Redevelopment Project.
✅ Reformed our night-time economy, reducing fees for venues and encouraging greater engagement with arts and culture.
✅ Invested record funding in the arts, with a 10% increase in funding available to arts organisations.
✅ Supported the local screen sector, including working with Screen Canberra to attract the filming of international screen productions Blacklight and Austin in the ACT.
✅ Improved the gender representation of our public art collection, delivering a new public artwork, commemorating The Hon. Susan Ryan AO and commissioning a new work to celebrate Stasia Dabrowski OAM by a woman or gender diverse/nonbinary artist.
✅ In response to the pandemic, delivered over $1.2 million to ACT live entertainment venues over two rounds of the Amp It Up! program, $350,000 for a third round of HOMEFRONT funding to support 68 ACT artists and $711,000 for the Creative Recovery and Resilience program.
Business and Economic Development
✅ Provided over $475 million in assistance to local businesses impacted by the pandemic.
✅ Created the Canberra Cyber Hub that is positioning Canberra as the cyber capital of Australia.
✅ Established the Outdoor Activation Taskforce to enable businesses to utilise additional outdoor space during the pandemic, and introduced next-day outdoor dining permits.
✅ Implemented Automatic Mutual Recognition of occupational licences
✅ Launched the BADJI program, supporting existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to develop and grow and help more entrepreneurs to start their own businesses
✅ Delivered a program of legislative and regulatory reform, informed by consultation with business, to make doing business in Canberra even easier.
Multicultural Affairs
✅ Delivered the 25th National Multicultural Festival, the biggest and most well-received festival in its history, which has been recognized nationally as Best Community Event.
✅ Passed the Multiculturalism Act, including a multicultural charter.
✅ Established the Multicultural Advisory Council in legislation.
✅ With the assistance of the Australian Red Cross and Humanitarian Settlement Program, provided direct financial support of $5000 per family to support long-term accommodation costs in the ACT for Afghans evacuated during the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and Ukrainians fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
✅ Worked closely with ACT multicultural communities to deliver a range of initiatives to support the COVID-19 health response in ACT.
✅ Progressed work on the Government’s response to the Review on Investment in ACT Community Language Schools Report, with Minister Berry.
✅ Achieved the “Advanced” level of accreditation of the Welcoming Cities Standard.
