A petition, comprising more than 900 signatures, was presented to the Federal Parliament calling for the retention of public service jobs in Tuggeranong. The petition was delivered by the Federal Member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann. The petition read; To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives. We, the undersigned residents, local business, and employees of the Tuggeranong region of the ACT, wish to bring to the House’s attention that a reversal of our population demise depends on Commonwealth Public Service jobs for Tuggeranong as the fundamental backbone of our local economy. Public Service jobs are the major contributor to the security and prosperity of our families and communities. These jobs will ensure our safety, our health, and our environment. Any loss of public service jobs reduces household income and consumer spending, hurting businesses and our economy. Therefore we call on the House to do all in its power to;
- Maintain and improve existing public service jobs that are located in the Tuggeranong region;
- and to locate in Tuggeranong CBD the required 40,000 to 42,000 square metres of space that is needed to house the newly consolidated Commonwealth Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
The petition was supported by the Tuggeranong Community Council, Communities@Work and the Tuggeranong Hyperdome management.