CollabIT Launch

Billed as a program to “create a supportive environment to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) throughout the ACT region”, CollabIT was launched last night by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope at Regatta Point.

Emerging from the highly successful Canberra.NET program, the Australian Information Industry Association has developed CollabIT to bring SMEs and large commercial organisations together to develop products and solutions for public and private sector clients. The program received funding support in this year’s ACT Budget.

And already there have been a number of success stories, building innovative partnerships that are helping drive economic growth in the Territory.

Further info is available at the Australian Information Industry Association website while my presentation from the event last night is available here: CollabIT Launch Slides.

Review of Supermarket Competition Policy

The ACT Government has appointed formed ACCC Commissioner John Martin to review supermaket competition policy in the ACT. The terms of references for the review are:

• the extent of competition in the ACT supermarket grocery sector in the light of the findings of the 2008 ACCC Inquiry into the competitiveness of retail prices for standard groceries;
• likely future trends in the structure of the ACT and Australian supermarket grocery sector;
• how the ACT Government can support effective and sustainable competition in the grocery sector;
• policies that might be applied on a site by site basis to ensure site allocation supports the ACT Government’s longer term policy objectives to promote competition and diversification; and
• any other additional measures that might be considered by the ACT Government to support a diverse and competitive retail grocery sector over the medium to longer term.

It’s critical we have healthy competition in the supermaket sector here in Canberra, with room for majors, independents and locally run stores.

There will be a series of community consultations on the review next week at the following locations:

• Tuggeranong
  Date: 13 July 2009
  Time: 12.30–2.30 pm
  Venue: The Vikings Town Centre
  Cnr Athlon Drive & Rowland Rees Crescent Greenway ACT 2900
• Woden
  Date: 13 July 2009
  Time: 6.30–8.30 pm
  Venue: Canberra Southern Cross Club
  92–96 Corinna Street Woden ACT 2606
• Gungahlin
  Date: 14 July 2009
  Time: 12.30–2.30 pm
  Venue: Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club
  Cnr Gungahlin Drive & Gundaroo Road Nicholls ACT 2913
  
• Belconnen
  Date: 14 July 2009
  Time: 6.30–8.30 pm
  Venue: West Belconnen Leagues Club
  Hardwick Crescent Kippax ACT 2615
• Civic
  Date: 16 July 2009
  Time: 5–7 pm
  Venue: The ACT Legislative Assembly Building
  London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601

Written submissions will also be accepted up to Friday 24 July. The email address for these and to RSVP for the public forums is supermarketreview@act.gov.au

Portfolios Announced

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope announced the distribution of portfolios yesterday. The Chief Minister has picked up Territory & Municipal Services, and Transport, and has allocated Treasury to Deputy Chief Minister Katy Gallagher. She has retained Health, Community Services and Women while the Children and  Young People portfolio has moved across to Andrew Barr. He continues in Education, Planning, Tourism Sport and Recreation.

John Hargreaves picks up IR, Ageing, Disability and Corrections while keeping Multicultural Affairs. Simon Corbell continues as Attorney-General and Minister for Police and Emergency Services while becoming Minister of the newly formed Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. He also becomes the Minister for Energy.

The full portfolio list is:

Mr Jon Stanhope MLA

Chief Minister

Minister for Transport

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services

Minister for Business and Economic Development

Minister for Indigenous Affairs

Minister for the Arts and Heritage

Ms Katy Gallagher MLA

Deputy Chief Minister

Treasurer

Minister for Health

Minister for Community Services

Minister for Women

Mr Simon Corbell MLA

Attorney General

Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water

Minister for Energy

Minister for Police and Emergency Services

Mr John Hargreaves MLA

Minister for Disability and Housing

Minister for Ageing

Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Minister for Industrial Relations

Minister for Corrections

Mr Andrew Barr

Minister for Education and Training

Minister for Children and Young People

Minister for Planning

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation