4 JUNE 2014 Wednesday, 4 June 2014

4 JUNE 2014 www.hansard.act.gov.au Wednesday, 4 June 2014 Budget—services and infrastructure ........................................................................ 1693 Questions without notice: Canberra Hospital—infrastructure ............................................................... 1731 Transport—light rail ..................................................................................... 1732 Budget—proposed sale of street lights ......................................................... 1733 Budget—health funding ............................................................................... 1734 Disability services—autism spectrum disorder ............................................ 1738 Budget—infrastructure ................................................................................. 1740 Transport—light rail ..................................................................................... 1743 Parking—fees ............................................................................................... 1746 Canberra Institute of Technology—campus modernisation ......................... 1747 Children and young people—out-of-home care ........................................... 1749 Personal explanation ................................................................................................ 1751 Disability services—providers ................................................................................. 1752 Economy—private sector employment .................................................................... 1778 Health—ACT Medicare Local ................................................................................. 1794 Adjournment: Cerebral palsy—fundraising night ................................................................ 1806 Organ donation ............................................................................................. 1807 Australian National University—School of Art ........................................... 1808 Legislative Assembly for the ACT Wednesday, 4 June 2014 MADAM SPEAKER (Mrs Dunne) took the chair at 10 am and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory. Budget—services and infrastructure DR BOURKE (Ginninderra) (10.01): I move: That this Assembly: (1) notes: (a) the ACT Budget provides for significant investment in the Canberra community by creating jobs and growing the economy through transformational projects; (b) the impact of the Commonwealth 2014-2015 Budget has put significant pressure on the ACT Budget, including funding to health; (c) notwithstanding this pressure, the ACT Government’s priorities stand in stark contrast to the Commonwealth by our continued investment in health and education; (d) the ACT Budget delivers high quality municipal services; (e) the Commonwealth reduction of an estimated 6,500 jobs in the ACT has a disproportionate impact on the city—with a reduction of at least 2,000 jobs in 2014-2015 alone; (f) although the ACT Government represents less than 10 percent of spending in the economy, it does have an impact on economic activity in the region; and (g) the ACT Budget continues to grow and diversify the economy; and (2) calls on the ACT Government to continue to: (a) provide high quality health and education services to the community; (b) support the community sector; and (c) support important infrastructure projects that will transform our city, grow the ACT economy and create jobs at a time that it needs it the most. I am proud of this government’s budget, prudently investing in the future of Canberra whilst maintaining services and ensuring the members of our community who are doing it tough are not left behind. This budget is built on an in-depth understanding of our city. The budget reflects knowledge of the needs and wishes of our families, the challenges and aspirations of our business community and the blunt-force trauma of the first budget of this Liberal federal government. 1693 4 June 2014 Legislative Assembly for the ACT This ACT government understands responsible economic management and includes a respect for the hopes and dreams of our community, not a blind belief in the hopes and dreams of right-wing think tanks. We believe developing the policies of government includes listening to the community, getting out and doorknocking. To the federal Treasurer, Joe Hockey, and the Liberal government, it seems doorknocking is just the next conservative lobby group coming to call. Our budget is about a belief in Canberrans and our ability to overcome the damage inflicted by the federal Liberal government. This federal government is taking $375 million out of our economy over four years and the ACT budget because of their cuts. Another 6½ thousand Australian public service jobs in Canberra are estimated to be lost in the next four years due to the cuts. We know that other cities facing such a scale of job losses have received a federal financial lifeline in some form to ease the transition. There is no assistance offered to Canberra due to the federal Liberal government’s cuts. It is no wonder, then, that the Canberra Liberals have the distinction of being the most unsuccessful Liberal branch in Australia. Now is not the time for a hair-shirt austerity budget from the ACT government. Everybody knows that. And we kept hearing it time and again from our community in the last day. Obviously the ACT government can only do so much to maintain our economy and maintain confidence while plotting a course back to a balanced budget in a few years time. We have a diverse, mixed economy. We are investing in public services, especially in health and education, and in the private sector through infrastructure projects that will generate jobs and maintain the momentum of our economy. Our budget includes record funding for health, community services and education. We have covered the commonwealth’s cuts to our health budget worth around $248 million and have increased spending. This increase funds 31 new hospital beds, 500 extra elective surgery procedures a year, more staff and services at the Belconnen and Tuggeranong community health services and extra health services for women and children. We are investing $1.1 billion in education and training, including $9.2 million for digital technology in our schools, a major new CIT campus in Tuggeranong, upgrades to childcare centres and the construction of the new Coombs school. We are investing $2.5 billion over the next four years in new infrastructure, stimulating the private sector when it is most needed. It is also at a time of low interest rates while we have low debt levels and a strong credit rating. Our infrastructure projects include the University of Canberra public hospital, the capital metro light rail, the Australia Forum convention centre, the city to the lake project, the Calvary hospital car park, the redevelopment of Woden bus interchange, new accommodation in the Alexander Maconochie Centre and the new court facilities. We are spending more than $45 million on new roads and road maintenance. There are some very important road projects but I am especially pleased that we will be 1694 Legislative Assembly for the ACT 4 June 2014 improving the intersection of William Slim Drive and the Barton Highway. Constituents on either side of the Barton Highway have highlighted the hazard for drivers and cyclists posed by this intersection. The problem has grown as the population in Gungahlin and along the Barton Highway has blossomed. Works include traffic lights, more lanes, on‐road cycle lanes and a shared-path bridge across Ginninderra Creek. It will cost $10 million over the next three years. In addition to these infrastructure projects that will benefit the private sector and create jobs, we are investing in business support programs to ensure our small and large enterprises, and budding entrepreneurs with just a good idea, have access to the mentoring and know-how to succeed in these challenging times, because we know that the last time these kinds of federal cuts were inflicted upon Canberra by the Liberal government in 1996 it was small business in town that took the brunt of that. I know that. I was there, and I saw it happen. Some increases to rates and charges in this budget will concern families and industries but doing nothing to maintain our economy would hurt them more in the long term. We are also continuing to reform our taxes, with cuts to stamp duty, which makes buying a home cheaper, payroll tax cuts to help businesses and the new over 60s home bonus, saving our 60-year-olds up to $20,000 in stamp duty when they choose to downsize their home. There is so much good news in this budget for all areas of Canberra. I would like to illustrate some of the great initiatives by highlighting some of the benefits for my constituents in Belconnen which I have not already mentioned. At Calvary hospital, besides the new 700-space car park and electrical works which will cost $19 million, they will have an additional 15 acute beds in 2014‐15, an additional intensive care unit bed, $1½ million for birthing services, $1.9 million to expand lymphoedema services and $1.3 million to expand Calvary’s ophthalmology services. Belconnen community health centre will be funded for the new nurse‐led walk-in centre. The centre will also have an additional eight full-time equivalent staff in 2014‐15, enabling other services to be expanded, at a cost of $9.4 million. The Belconnen High School upgrade

Load more