Deb Foskey: In the Community

	In the Assembly

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Motions

Airport and development

26 August

Deb put forward a Matter of Public Importance for debate concerning the development of the Canberra International Airport and the importance of a curfew

Deb's speech

Waste

20 August 2008

Deb moved a motion calling on the ACT Government to implement the recent State of the Environment Report recommendations relating to waste and to improve our use of resources and treatment of waste in general.

Deb's speech

Planning processes

6 August 2008

Deb moved a motion regarding planning processes in the ACT, calling for a long term vision and more thought into the social and environmental impacts of our planning systems. It is yet to be debated.

Civil Unions

8 May 2008

Deb tabled a petition in support of the ceremonial aspects of the Civil Partnerships Bill. The petition was originally intended for presentation to the Senate but in light of the changes by the ACT Government due to pressure from the Federal Government it has been submitted as an out of order petition in the Assembly. It was signed by 711 residents.

Proposed Power Plant

7 May 2008

Deb moved a motion to call for greater investigation into the proposed natural gas power station and data centre in Tuggeranong before the development is approved.

Participatory Budgeting

7 May 2008

Deb presented a matter of public importance discussing the benefits of participatory budgeting; including how it is used to great effect in Brazil and other jurisdictions and how the ACT could benefit from it's use.

Planning and Development Regulation SL2008-2

April 2008

Deb moved a motion to disallow the new planning regulations to enable debate about the changes, and to discuss the regulations that were not included here, or in the Bill.

Canberra International Airport

March 2008

Dr Foskey raised a motion that the Assembly acknowledges the plans outlined in the Canberra International Airport's Draft Preliminary Master Plan, and it's impact on the ACT; and calls on the Assembly address the planning and environmental concerns these plans have created. The motion is currently on the Notice Paper and has yet to be debated.

Languages in Schools

February 2008

Dr Foskey raised a motion that the Assembly acknowledge the crucial role of high quality school language programs in supporting a multilingual and multicultural society, and asking the Assembly to ensure sustained, and meaningful language learning experiences are provided for all students in ACT schools.

Sorry

February 2008

Mr Stanhope raised a motion moving that the Assembly reaffirm its apology made on 17 June 1997 to the Ngunnawal and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the hurt and distress inflicted as a result of the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.

Deb's Sorry Speech

Rivett School

December 2007

Dr Foskey tabled a petition requesting that the Government retain and upgrade the Rivett School site for community use. It was signed by 1103 residents.

Gambling

October 2007

Dr Foskey has given notice to raise the effects of gambling in the ACT in assembly. Dr Foskey will call on the Assembly and the Government to take action in relation to this issue.

Animal Welfare

26 September 2007

Dr Foskey tabled a petition imploring the Government to ban the production of battery eggs. It was signed by 1387 residents.

Waste management

29 August 2007

Dr Foskey moved that the assembly call on the Government to re-commit to the No Waste by 2010 strategy. The Government moved an amendment and the motion has not yet been resolved.

Motion of disallowance, Variation to the Territory Plan

23 August 2007

Dr Foskey moved that the assembly disallow the variation to territory plan, to protect community use of the Woden area, prevent the loss of green space and consult with more widely the community. The Government did not support the motion of disallowance and it was defeated.

Home loan market

22 August 2007

Dr Foskey moved that the assembly note the increase in non-bank lenders in the home loan market and the upward trend in the number of borrowers facing home repossession by non-bank lenders. Dr Foskey moved that the assembly implement recommendation seven of a Report Tabled by Consumer Law Centre ACT. The Government did not support the motion. It was later amended by the Attorney General.

Low income earners

2 May 2007

Dr Foskey moved that the assembly note the importance of concessions to low-income earners in the ACT and that it resume the concessions review it abandoned in 2004. The motion was abandoned as Katy Gallagher, Minister for Disability and Community Services, agreed to resume the concessions review.

Griffith library

14 March 2007

Dr Foskey moved that the ACT Government note the recent closure of the Griffith library and called on the government to make the Property Board's Options Papers and Cost/Benefit Analyses for closed school sites available for public comment. The government supported this motion and it was passed.

Environment - climate change

7 March 2007

Dr Foskey moved that the ACT Government note the risk posed by climate change to our environment, society and economy, note the failure of the government to act and adopt targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Foskey's motion also called on the ACT government to release its greenhouse strategy. The government supported this motion and it was passed.

Community Housing Policy

15 November 2006

Dr Foskey moved that the ACT Government reaffirm its commitment to community housing in Canberra, and develop a policy for community housing in partnership with both the community housing sector and the Affordable Housing Steering Group. The Government did not support Dr Foskey's motion, and amended it to note that "the ACT Government has provided substantial support to the community housing sector".

Towards 2020 cost/benefit analysis

18 October 2006

Dr Foskey moved that the ACT Government to conduct and publicly release a full cost-benefit analysis of its Towards 2020 plan for school reorganisation and closures. The Government did not support the motion.

Media releases - Do the school work properly!

Narrabundah Longstay Caravan Park

7 June 06

Deb Foskey moved a motion recognising the importance of the Narrabundah Longstay Caravan Park to its residents. The motion also called on the new owners to walk away from its purchase and eviction of the 200 residents, and for ACT’s peak business and property organisations to publicly commit to an ethics-based approach of corporate social responsibility. See the first and second debates.

Media releases - Saving people’s homes
- Assembly calls for an ethical approach to business and
development

Childcare

3 May 06

Deb Foskey MLA moved a motion calling on the ACT Government to develop a strategy to support the provision of high quality and affordable childcare.

The Minister for Minister for Disability and Community Services argued that this was not the responsibility of the ACT Government and amended the motion to call on the Federal Government to do this work.

Media releases   - Childcare needs
                    - Childcare inaction
                    - Childcare needs strategic approach
                    - Childcare and schools

Youth Vote

29 Mar 06

The Greens motion to investigate an optional vote for young people 16 and 17 yrs, put in the lead up to Youth Week, is referred to the Assembly's Standing Committee on Education, Training and Young People. See the media release.

Multiculturalism in the ACT

15 Feb 06

Deb Foskey MLA moved a motion affirming respect for human rights and cultural diversity, and calling for the ACT government to specifically consult young people and women in developing its new multicultural framework.

The Minister for Multicultural Affairs argued that he had done a lot of consulting, and he amended the motion to commend the ACT government for the work it had done. See the media release.

ACT Public Service to welcome internal criticism and concern

23 Nov 05

We negotiated a motion that saw the ACT Government agree to offer sufficient support and scrutiny of recommended changes to its Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP), after 3 reviews arising from critique by ex-workers; and to support an ACT Public Service culture that values internal criticism. See the debate and media release.

ACT Gvt to investigate poverty solutions

19 Oct 05

In anti poverty week, the ACT Government took on a Greens motion to investigate poverty solutions through employment creation and wage subsidy for people in low wage and low-skilled employment, and to report back to the Assembly. See the debate and media release.

Commitment to local retail and community services agreed (in the abstract)

21 Sept 05

Dr Foskey's motion affirmed the importance of viable retail and community services and schools to our suburbs; and for the impact on local centre viability to be assessed in the ACT Government’s review of its “garden city” variation.

The motion was supported after the Government amended it to agree with the sentiments, but not the actions, which was disappointing. See the debate and media release.

Assembly to drink Fair Trade tea and coffee

24 Aug 05

Unfortunately our tea and coffee motion was watered down by the Government. Nonetheless we did get support for the Assembly to use Fair Trade products when feasible; and the Government has committed to investigating such an approach across all its activities. See the debate and media release.

City Hill plans need to reflect community values

17 Aug 05

A Greens motion in the Assembly calling for future plans for Civic to be informed by a full community values exercise; for the ACT Government to follow its own consultation protocol (this was a victory!); and for any future taskforce or development body set up to manage the process to be open and transparent, and include community representatives was supported by Government and Opposition.

The debate is informative, and the media release sets the context.

A Pregnant Pause: the future of Maternity Services

29 June 05

The motion called for the ACT Government to adopt all the recommendation of the Assembly's Pregnant Pause report into maternity services. However it was watered down by the Government to merely promise a response in August.

Assembly debate and motion as passed
Media release - Government fails to deliver
See Issues page for more information.

Support for non-government organisations

29 June 05

A Greens motion recognising the value of non-government peak bodies and advocacy organisations, and the importance of public funding for them, won support from the ACT Government.

Motion and Assembly debate.

Media releases - Conservation Council funding
- Assembly supports Advocacy

Reconvening the Affordable Housing Taskforce

4 May 05

The Motion and Assembly Debate

Media release - Debate and action on affordable housing still needed

The Community Advocate's invaluable contribution to the ACT

16 Mar 05

The Motion and Assembly Debate

Media release - Merit based process for appointing Commissioners welcomed

Smoking in enclosed public places

9 Mar 05