ANDREW Barr and Shane Rattenbury have conducted a final review of the Parliamentary Agreement for the 8th Assembly, and agreed that the majority of shared goals have been completed or are underway.

The Parliamentary Agreement is a shared policy program, across all portfolio areas, that is implemented over the four year term of the Government. The Agreement was made in 2012 to formalise the relationship between the ACT Greens and the ACT Labor Party to form Government until the election in October 2016.

The two said the key achievements over the term of the Agreement include:

• Exceeding the target of 90% renewable energy consumption by 2020, by achieving 100% renewable energy by 2020 at a low long-term cost;
• Planning, financing and commencing the first stage of Light Rail – as promised in the 2012 election – and consult on and release a light rail network Masterplan;
• Completing the Common Ground housing project in Gungahlin, which provides 20 units for people experiencing homelessness, and another 20 as affordable rental accommodation;
• Establishing a single conservation agency to better care for the ACT’s natural open spaces, and funding for more park rangers and nature park improvements;
• Introducing a car-sharing system and regulatory and planning changes to support and encourage car sharing in Canberra;
• Improving animal welfare by banning caged hens and sow stalls, and regulation of cat and dog breeding and sales to eradicate puppy and kitten “farms”;
• Making the ACT’s tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient by abolishing inefficient taxes, while continuing to provide appropriate and targeted assistance to those who need it;
• Allocating more funding for mental health services, including construction of a secure adult mental health facility;
• Installing 30 new drinking fountains in key public locations to provide free and healthy drinking options for the public; and
• Establishing the Auditor-General, Electoral Commissioner and Ombudsman as officers of the Parliament.

“When I became Chief Minister I reaffirmed that the Government would work to deliver the remainder of this ambitious policy program, and it’s pleasing that we have managed to substantively achieve it by the end of the parliamentary term,” Andrew said.

“Our success rate across all portfolio areas, from projects big and small, shows how committed we have been to achieve our shared goals for Canberra. All Ministers have worked hard to meet the terms of the Agreement, and it shows how progressive political parties, working together, can deliver for the whole community.”

Shane said that the Agreement had been a success by delivering a strong policy agenda and a stable, environmentally responsible and progressive government.

“The last four years are a good example of how two parties with different policy platforms and different ideas can work together to form a stable government and deliver for the community,” Shane said.

“There is of course some creative friction between our two parties, and our priorities. However, the success of the Agreement is testament to our ability to work together constructively.”