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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1731 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

maintenance has been increased by $200,000 from the previous year. That is welcomed, but the outcome will see 2,800 metres less pathway maintenance than last year.

Spending in the current budget on waste and recycling has been decreased by $1.3 million from the previous year's estimated outcome. How does the government expect to achieve no waste by 2010, if it is not prepared to ensure that the spending in this area at least keeps pace with CPI?

In sport, whilst the government can be commended for allocating $1 million for pools, sportsground lighting and sportsground improvements, we must remember that this is, after all, only an ongoing program. It can be partly commended for at least replacing the very old sand hockey pitch with a synthetic water-based pitch at the Hockey Centre at Lyneham at a cost of $850,000.

However, it has not put any money towards the proposed $5 million redevelopment there to enable ACT Hockey to host major international tournaments from 2005 onwards-an initiative that I believe would also receive funding from the Commonwealth.

The obvious gaps in the sports area-something dear to your heart, Mr Speaker, are the broken promises to the dragway people. There is no money for a dragway and none is likely to come from this government. The government has done nothing in relation to its promises made last year to assist sports with the insurance crisis. This seems to have vanished as an issue for this government.

Mr Speaker, in the arts, I commend the government for at least continuing with a number of projects in the art portfolio such as the Link, even if they are doing it very slowly. With the Duntroon dairy project, which I recall being our initiative-again better late than never.

Regarding the Glass Works, that has been incredibly slow, but this year sees $2.5 million finally reallocated, which is welcomed. The word, I suppose, in relation to arts is: yes there are ongoing projects, but they will arrive slowly.

In corrections, I am pleased to see that the funding has been included-a year late-for remandee health at the Symonston temporary remand centre. I also note the government's commitment in the out years for the funding of a new remand centre. The fundamental problems facing the ACT's corrections system will not be resolved until we have a prison. I know I sound like a broken record in calling for it again, but it is too important to let go, with the promise of a remand centre in the future.

The ACT has a moral obligation to take care of its own. The evidence is incontrovertible as to the effect that sending prisoners interstate has on recidivism, prisoner welfare and the welfare of their families. The ACT also has a fiscal obligation to build a prison. At present, it costs around $800,000 a month to house prisoners interstate. That money, and the prisoners it funds, belongs here in the ACT.

The government has attempted to summarise the opposition's response to the budget as merely criticism of lack of vision. This is not the case. The Labor response is a lazy one, and I have just delivered a serious critique of this budget. I have pointed out its flaws and shown how it fails the community. I have proved the folly of the government's fiscal

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