ArchivesACT has announced that it has released ACT Government records from the year 1998 for public access.
Under the Territory Records Act 2002 the Archive is empowered to release the records to the community each year when they become 20 years old. It usually does so on Canberra Day.
The records show that in 1998 Canberra’s population had recently passed 300,000 and the average Canberra house price was $155,500.
Musically, pop ruled supreme with the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Aqua and Steps topping the charts and Aussie bands The Living End, Grinspoon, Human Nature and Regurgitator also making their mark in the top 100.
The popular Oscar award-winning movie, Babe had a marked effect on the growth of vegetarianism, making some feel guilty as they munched on their breakfast bacon.
The ACT election saw Kate Carnell re-elected as Chief Minister. The Australian economy was in a slump and the dollar fell to 62.25 US cents.
A review on whether the ACT milk industry should be deregulated led to a heated political and public debate and the Pettit Review of the self-government of the ACT was well under way.
According to the records, social policies being explored by the Government included domestic violence, drug harm minimisation, gambling, smoke-free venues and palliative care.
With the advent of the first National Sorry Day, the ACT Government was also working with the Commonwealth on the Bringing Them Home report.
The ACT and Sub-Region Planning Strategy was also introduced, aiming at developing closer relationships with surrounding areas of NSW, including economic development, transport, waste management and the conservation of waterways, grasslands and wetlands.
In a popular move, the Government of the day announced a study into the future use and redevelopment of the Manuka and Phillip Ovals, with the plan being to enable usage by as many types of sport as possible.
After lengthy correspondence with the Commonwealth, work also began on the establishment of the Canberra Nara Park.
