BUILDING A BETTER NORMAL ACT GREENS 2020 POLICY PLATFORM THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE IMPORTANT TIME TO BUILD A BETTER NORMAL. In these unprecedented times, the decisions we make now will shape the future of our society. If the bushfires and smoke over the summer, and now the COVID-19 pandemic have shown us anything, it's that business as usual cannot continue. While the old parties and status quo are seeking a return to normal, the ACT Greens have a plan to use this once in a lifetime opportunity to redress the inequalities and injustices inherent in our current systems—to build a better normal. This means bringing the same boldness, decisiveness and energy the ACT Greens brought to climate action to reimagining our community in a way that benefits everyone for decades to come. It’s clear that now is both the right time and the best opportunity to build a better normal, by ensuring everyone has a home, by greening our suburbs, acting on climate change, and providing meaningful secure work. Our community can achieve amazing things when we put our minds to it and work together. We know we need to make our environment and activities more sustainable, and our community and infrastructure more resilient. We’re at a critical moment, and have the opportunity to rewrite the rules to ensure a cleaner, greener community where everyone is supported to thrive. The ACT Greens play a unique role in the Australian political landscape and have been working hard over decades to set policies in the ACT that help shape a fair and sustainable future. We have shown that Greens in Government make a real difference on the issues that matter most in our community. We bring a long-term view of a reimagined world where we wisely invest our time, energy and resources into a better future for our children and their children. That’s why we will invest heavily in living infrastructure and neighbourhood facilities, to ensure our city remains liveable in a changing climate, and to give the community more control with our Neighbourhood Democracy package, Australia’s largest participatory budget program. We will transform how we get around by connecting every suburb in Canberra to an offroad walking and cycling network, and heal our land and bush with our Caring for Country conservation package. We will ensure the ACT drives climate action in Australia, kickstarting an electric vehicle, green housing and microgrid revolution. And we will ensure everyone in our community has a decent home. The solutions are here in our policies, and we have the courage, ambition and leadership required to see them through. This is our promise to Canberrans. We are here to build a better normal, with you and for you. Shane Rattenbury ACT Greens Leader June 2020 CONTENTS CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................... 5 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Biodiversity and Conservation ....................................................................................................................... 7 Bushfire Management and Emergency Response .................................................................................. 10 Climate Change and Energy ........................................................................................................................ 12 Ecological Footprint of the ACT .................................................................................................................. 15 Food Production and Consumption ........................................................................................................... 16 Water ................................................................................................................................................................ 18 ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ............................................................................................... 20 ACT Economy ................................................................................................................................................. 21 Business and Consumer Affairs ................................................................................................................. 23 Community Sector ......................................................................................................................................... 25 Employment, Industrial Relations and Workplace Wellbeing ................................................................ 27 Information and Communications Technology and the Digital Economy .......................................... 30 Public Sector and Taxation .......................................................................................................................... 31 GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ....................................................................................................... 33 Arts and Culture ............................................................................................................................................. 34 Community Engagement and Participatory Democracy ....................................................................... 35 Education ........................................................................................................................................................ 37 A Healthy Democracy ................................................................................................................................... 40 Human Rights ................................................................................................................................................. 42 Justice ............................................................................................................................................................. 43 Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Variations ................................................................. 45 Sport and Recreation .................................................................................................................................... 47 HEALTH AND SOCIAL EQUITY .................................................................................................................... 49 Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs ............................................................................................................. 50 Carers ............................................................................................................................................................... 52 Children and Young People .......................................................................................................................... 54 Disability .......................................................................................................................................................... 56 Families ........................................................................................................................................................... 58 Family and Domestic violence .................................................................................................................... 59 First Nations Peoples .................................................................................................................................... 61 Gambling ......................................................................................................................................................... 63 Health ............................................................................................................................................................... 65 Mental Health and Wellbeing ....................................................................................................................... 68 Multiculturalism and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity ........................................................................... 70 Older People .................................................................................................................................................... 72 BUILDING A BETTER NORMAL 3 CONTENTS PAGE Social Equity ................................................................................................................................................... 74 Women ............................................................................................................................................................ 76 URBAN PLANNING AND CITY SERVICES ................................................................................................. 78 Animal Welfare ............................................................................................................................................... 79 Heritage ........................................................................................................................................................... 80 Housing and Homelessness ....................................................................................................................... 82 Transport ........................................................................................................................................................ 84 Urban Planning and Built Form ..................................................................................................................