The Chief Minister, Andrew Barr has appointed an eighth Minister to serve in the ACT Government.
MLA for Murrumbidgee, Chris Steel (pictured) is to fill the position which Mr Barr said was needed due to the size and growth of the Territory’s population.
He said Canberra was now a city of 420,000 people with its population projected to reach half a million in the next decade.
“This growth has supported a stronger local economy that is growing faster than the rest of the nation,” Mr Barr said.
“We have record levels of employment in the Territory, with 229,000 Canberrans in employment and the lowest unemployment rate in the country,” he said.
“As we near the halfway point of this Parliamentary term, the Government is continuing to deliver more city services in response to this population growth.”
He said the Government was building a public healthcare network that delivered free healthcare when and where Canberrans needed it; a conversation had been started with school students, teachers, and the community that would lead to a better education system.
“The first stage of our city-wide light rail network is being finalised, as important negotiations continue with the Commonwealth Parliament on Stage Two of the network,” Mr Barr said.
“Later this year, the Government will also release our Housing Strategy, outlining the next phase of our investments in public, community and affordable housing.”
He said that in response to the city’s growth and the Government’s future plans the eighth Minister would allow new priorities to be delivered, resulting in better outcomes for Canberrans.
“Both Tasmania and the Northern Territory have nine Ministers. The ACT, with eight, will continue to have the smallest executive of all the States and Territories,” the Chief Minister said.
