Page 3018 - Week 10 - Friday, 8 October 2021
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We are also vesting funding in ACT Policing, including more than $11.4 million to improve accommodation for our police and emergency services in Gungahlin; $4.2 million to meet the growing and increasingly complex workload associated with forensic and medical services; $6.6 million to replace ACT Policing’s core radio comms system; and over $11 million for expanded enabling services to support operational capacity.
These budget initiatives will ensure that our emergency services and police remain well resourced and that Canberrans remain safe and well protected as the city continues to grow.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how will these investments support the work of our frontline responders?
MR GENTLEMAN: I would like to begin by thanking our frontline responders for their ongoing commitment and dedication to serving our community. Our police officers, firefighters and paramedics do a wonderful job responding to emergencies and looking after Canberrans, often in challenging circumstances.
The ACT government has a proud record of supporting our police and our emergency responders and will continue to do so now and into the future. We are enabling our frontline responders to keep our community safe through major investments in this budget. We are providing significant funding for staffing, vehicles, infrastructure, ICT, accommodation and services over the next four years.
We have been listening to our frontline responders about what they need, and their invaluable feedback has helped us shape our initiatives for the 2021-22 budget. I look forward to continuing to work with them to ensure that they remain well supported and well resourced into the future.
MS ORR: Minister, how will these investments improve community safety into the future?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Orr for her interest in community safety. When discussing community safety, it is important to note that Canberra is one of the safest cities in Australia. We have some of the most effective and best-performing emergency services in the country. This is no mistake. It is a result of this government’s ongoing record of investment. It is always done in the past. This government is continuing to keep Canberra safe through the delivery of well-resourced, community-focused services.
The investments in our police and emergency services in the 2021-22 budget will improve community safety by boosting the capability of our paramedics, firefighters and police officers to respond to emergencies. It will ensure that Canberrans continue to receive a high standard of service in some of their most difficult times and that our frontline responders can keep up with the growing demand. It will also enable us to maintain a skilled and resilient workforce that is well equipped and supported.
Community safety will always remain a high priority for the ACT government, both in this budget and into the future.
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