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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (13 May) . . Page.. 1237 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

In addition, there are business incentives such as payroll tax concessions, electricity and water concessions, direct land grants and educational training programs which cannot be quantified. These incentives are available to both existing local businesses and new businesses establishing in Canberra.

I am pleased that Mrs Carnell has recognised the importance of the capital region to Canberra's future economic stability, not only by the budget but also by her leadership in establishing the regional leaders forum. This important committee, chaired by the Chief Minister, consists of the 17 mayors and shire presidents from the region, allowing for a common understanding that produces a united regional strategy. I know that there are detractors and pessimists out there, and there are some in this place, Mr Speaker; but the two private enterprise projects that have the potential to turn this Territory and the region right around are the upgrading of the Canberra Airport to international status and the high speed train, which go hand in hand. They have the potential to provide full-time permanent jobs for several thousand people directly and many more indirectly. I am extremely confident that both of these projects will go ahead. Mrs Carnell has touched on these projects as being integral to this Government's vision for the future of the Territory and also the region.

I urge Mrs Carnell to continue our Government's pursuit of the international airport cause. I have just returned from Christchurch, New Zealand, with other members of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, which I chair. We were able to see there at first hand the impact an international airport can have not only on the city but also on the region and its development. That visit will be the subject of a report to this parliament at a later date. Suffice it to say now that the benefits that have accrued from an international airport in the Christchurch region, with a population of 450,000, are minuscule when compared to what could be expected in the Canberra region, with a population of more than 600,000.

Another aspect of Mrs Carnell's budget that I would like to touch on is the reference to a $100m contribution to the ACT economy from ACTEW Corporation, which seems to have attracted an incredible amount of controversy. The facts of the matter are that, when ACTEW was corporatised 18 months ago, the corporation acquired many hundreds of millions of dollars worth of assets accrued over the years with financial contributions from the people of Canberra. The ACTEW board members, I am sure, would be the first to admit that Canberra residents, like any other investor, are entitled to a return on their investment. All the Government is asking ACTEW to do is to make good that return by now making a contribution to the running of the community that has financed this operation over the many years.

As I indicated at the beginning of my speech, I believe that this is a budget designed with Canberra's welfare in mind, and I commend Mrs Carnell on the papers she has delivered. Mr Berry criticised Mrs Carnell and our Government over the past 21/2 years, but I would like to remind this house of the seven months lead-up to the 1995 election on 18 February; that is, the Executive budget of the former Government was overspent by $257,000 on salaries and expenses; on employment programs, $2.5m was overspent on projects, including the Clean-Up Canberra project, before the 18 February election,

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