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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Tuesday, 4 May 2004) . . Page.. 1749 ..

Budget reform

Mr Speaker, the government maintains its commitment to prudent financial management and accountability.

This budget has not merely been about just adding to the bottom line of the budget, and to the cost base, without considering the existing level of sustainable resources that are already provided to government departments.

Most agencies have been asked to make savings in this budget. A modest savings target of $6.2 million will be achieved in 2004-05, rising to $6.9 million by 2007-08. Departments will achieve these savings primarily through administrative and overhead restructuring.

The territory’s budget mid-year review was released for the first time in February this year. This budget has also been framed taking account of the changes to the Financial Management Act relating to fiscal responsibility.

The government has responded to the request of the Public Accounts Committee to include reporting on bushfire expenditure in its quarterly reports.

Mr Speaker, I also release with these budget papers a supplementary paper on possible changes to the future budget framework and presentation. This paper focuses heavily on sustainability and on how the principles of sustainability can be driven through future budgeting and reporting. This paper is released for consultation.

Sustainability and the environment

Mr Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the 2004-05 budget is yet another strong budget which continues the Stanhope government’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.

This budget provides significant funding commitments for the sustainable transport plan. Funding of $6 million over two years is provided in the capital works program for stage 1 of the sustainable transport initiative. This will provide a bus corridor between Belconnen and Civic.

A further $900,000 is provided for the Gungahlin to Civic corridor high occupancy vehicles priority measures. Bike racks will also be installed in ACTION buses on intertown route services. A concept design will also be undertaken on a real-time passenger information system for the interchanges.

An additional 10 express ACTION services will be initiated from selected outlying suburbs at peak hours on weekdays, reducing travel time and making public transport more attractive and effective for the community.

Mr Speaker, the Stanhope government has a strong commitment to pursuing sustainability.

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