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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 7 Hansard (29 June) . . Page.. 2336 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

passengers. We did not get them. Sorry, we only had 8 per cent more over the last two years. The national trend is a 1 per cent increase a year. So our 8 per cent is four times better than elsewhere. Well done to ACTION; well done to their staff. We will continue to work towards making it a very fine public transport system.

There was criticism in the Estimates Committee. For $297 million worth of appropriation the Estimates Committee report made four recommendations. In one they wanted to know what I eat for lunch when I visit Parliament House. One was about planning, one was about the environment, and the fourth one slips my mind. For the third largest appropriation, there were just four recommendations. The committee was virtually saying, "We have no comment to make on this."

What we have heard tonight is just a reiteration of hobbyhorses. The government believes that we can answer all of what has been said here tonight, because we know that we are out there doing the job. We are out there talking with the community, and we are out there delivering what they want.

The Urban Services line, like the entire budget, should be passed, because we are achieving what we promised the people of Canberra. We said that we would manage the finances well and get us back into the black, and we have done that. Congratulations to the Treasurer for what he has achieved with this budget. We said we would create jobs. After five years, we have a net 13,000 growth in jobs and, at the same time, we are addressing fundamental issues like the look of the city, protecting the environment, putting a roof over the heads of those in need, and building up the infrastructure of this city. I commend the Urban Services line and the entire budget to the Assembly.

Amendment agreed to.

Proposed expenditure, as amended, agreed to.

Proposed expenditure-Part 10-The InTACT Group, $2,640,000 (capital injection)-agreed to.

Proposed expenditure-Part 11-ACT Housing, nil expenditure-agreed to.

Proposed expenditure-Part 12-ACTION, nil expenditure-agreed to.

Proposed expenditure-Part 13-ACT Forests, nil expenditure-agreed to.

Proposed new part 13A-ACT Workcover

Amendment (by Mr Humphries ) agreed to:

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

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