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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (6 December) . . Page.. 3741 ..
MR HIRD (continuing):
from next financial year. A further $400 million over four years will go to national highways and roads of national importance projects to develop key arterial link roads in outer metropolitan areas.
The ACT will receive $20 million in funding over four years from next financial year under this scheme. I commend the Minister for Urban Services. Earlier we heard some disquiet in respect of the way he is handling his ministry, but he is to be commended for the way he has negotiated with his federal counterparts. I was surprised that when the Prime Minister put forward this proposal, the federal Leader of the Opposition, Mr Beazley, described the proposal as a boondoggle for the National Party. At first I thought Mr Beazley had said it was a boon, which the Macquarie Dictionary describes as "a benefit enjoyed" or "a thing to be thankful for". I then looked down the page to find that the dictionary describes boondoggle. Boondoggle, Mr Speaker, as I know you would know, is described in the Macquarie Dictionary as "pointless and time - wasting activities".
Journalists pursued this and questioned Mr Beazley further on the issue on 27 November. He said:
When people start talking about roads who are politicians, there's always likely to be a smell of pork in the air.
He also warned:
We reserve the right to determine whether or not particular expenditures constitute pork.
He said that he would announce by the next election how they would deal with it. So far the federal Labor Party has identified one area of concern in relation to the package, and - guess what - it relates to this territory. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Mr Warren Snowdon described the level of funding for the ACT as "a sick joke", asking:
How can they justify $20 million for the Australian Capital Territory?
I believe that this parliament should be concerned at the federal Labor Party's approach to road improvements within the territory. I consider that funding appropriate road works is an important function of government. As chair of the urban services committee, I am aware that many Canberrans, especially those in Gungahlin and south Tuggeranong, consider that the roads to those areas are in need of urgent upgrade. That is why this government is spending $130 million over several years improving road networks within the territory.
That is why federal funding under the Road to Recovery program is important to this territory. It will allow us more money to improve our road network, which contributes so much to our quality of life. Indeed, members would be aware that the urban services committee has before it a reference concerning Gungahlin Drive, or John Dedman Drive. This, of course, relates directly to the new satellite area of Gungahlin, which is in dire straits, not having an adequate road system. Without pointing the finger at any group, I believe the government of the day that decided to develop Gungahlin should have taken a lead from previous governments and the former NCDC and put the road infrastructure in place before they started selling the land.
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