Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (23 June) . . Page.. 832 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

Mr Speaker, this Government is committed to the preservation of our unique natural environment. This budget reinforces that commitment. In line with our election promise, we have identified funding of $100,000 to establish a weed hit team to target trouble spots. Additional resources will be made available for improved management of urban lakes and ponds, while we will also commit $150,000 as part of our decision to become a fully-fledged member of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission - something that was long overdue, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, funding of $500,000 has been identified to replace the downstream weir at Casuarina Sands, while the new Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Visitor Centre will be constructed, at a cost of $800,000. The Government also plans to release a comprehensive draft greenhouse strategy for public comment in August this year. While the ACT contributes less than one per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, I am proud to say that we remain the only State or Territory to establish a reduction target. Mr Speaker, further details of these and other initiatives are contained in Budget Paper No. 3.

Mr Speaker, the urban revitalisation program that began under this Government three years ago will continue across Canberra. A further $1.5m will be spent this year on upgrading areas around Civic to create a real city heart for the national capital and a safer environment for everyone. The next stage of our precinct management program will see $2.9m spent on improving areas around shopping centres at Curtin, Watson, Hawker, Manuka, Yarralumla, Dickson, Hall, Kippax and Weston Creek, Mr Speaker. We have also decided to extend the highly successful helpShop program for a further 12 months as part of our ongoing commitment to small retailers and local communities. A total of $200,000 has been set aside to enable local traders to access grants to improve the appearance of their local shopping centres and to develop strategies to help them adjust to the changing retail environment. Already, 48 local centres have accessed the helpShop fund and the improvements are already being seen around Canberra and are already improving their turnover.

Today is International Olympic Day - a very appropriate day for a budget. It also means that there are 813 days to go until the 2000 Olympics football tournament begins in Canberra, 813 days until we start the Olympics right here in the national capital. This budget includes funding for the initial costs associated with staging Olympic soccer in Canberra as a result of our successful bid. Together with our expanded tourism and business marketing program, it represents a real commitment by this Government to maximise the benefits of our Olympic involvement and beyond. This budget also establishes a national teams fund of $600,000 for the first time in the ACT. It will be available to assist both men's and women's teams that represent the ACT in national competitions and recognises the benefits that the high profile of these sides brings to the Territory. In return, these teams will be asked to undertake a more active role in directly promoting Canberra both locally and interstate.

This Government and Mr Osborne have been alone in recognising and acting upon the problem of the Territory's massive unfunded superannuation liabilities. I understand that those opposite think this is funny, but by 2013 - just 15 years from now - it will be a $1.7 billion headache that could financially cripple future ACT governments, unless we

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .