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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 5 Hansard (1 May) . . Page.. 1310 ..

Other initiatives

I turn now to budget initiatives that fall outside the themes of innovation, early intervention and addressing poverty.

Many Canberra families will benefit from the government's decision to provide a free school bus service. At $18.7 million over four years in recurrent costs and $8 million in capital costs, it will enable ACTION and rural school bus operators to introduce the school student transport scheme from 1 September this year. The capital injection will fund the acquisition of the new buses required to meet the anticipated increase in demand. A further $700,000 has been allocated for an enhanced transport scheme for students with disabilities.

Multiculturalism is important to this community. That is why we are doubling our contribution to the multicultural grants program with an extra $0.5 million a year. This will enable more applications from Canberra's multicultural communities to be funded.

Supporters of Australian Rules football will be pleased to know that we have committed $250,000 a year to secure four Australian Football League matches at the Manuka Oval each year. Funding will also contribute towards a junior development program for AFL within the ACT. The program will enhance Canberra's chances of securing a team in the national competition in years to come.

There will also be support for the GMC 400 car race, staging the 9th Australian Masters Games in Canberra in 2003 and the Rally of Canberra. Hosting these events means jobs for Canberra.

More than $850,000 a year has been allocated to maintaining current standards of fire brigade response in all areas of Canberra. In particular, the initiative provides additional funding for a revised organisational structure, recruitment, a range of occupational health and safety issues and training and staff development.

We will also enhance our ambulance service. More than $1 million a year has been allocated for additional ambulance paramedics. The program aims to maintain the current standards of emergency ambulance service response in the ACT, in response to population growth and movement.

On environmental issues, we are providing $310,000 a year under the No Waste by 2010 project to meet the anticipated increased costs of providing garden waste recycling services at the Mugga Lane and west Belconnen land fills. We will also provide $351,000 over four years to be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 700,000 tonnes a year by 2008.

In line with recommendations from Assembly committees, we are providing $500,000 a year to enable the Canberra Christian Life Centre to establish a community recreation area and skateboard park in the grounds of the former Charnwood High School site. Also in line with committee recommendations, funds have been allocated as a grant to the Canberra Police and Citizens Youth Club for assistance in the purchase of a 12-seater bus. The ACT-Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group has also been assisted.

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