Page 1883 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 May 2005
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Transport is a major issue, particularly the Gungahlin Drive extension, a major capital project for which the cost has blown out from $70 million to $86 million—what did you say last time, Mrs Dunne?—and for which the residents of Gungahlin will now have to wait until at least September 2007 before they can use this critical road link. It is a shame that the minister is not at his desk because we all remember Mr Corbell’s promise. What was it, Mrs Dunne? “GDE will be delivered on time and on budget.” The completion date should have been 1 July this year, two months away. Yet again, false hope has been given and bad outcomes have been achieved by poor planning.
Mr Speaker, what a disgraceful outcome we have in police and emergency services. There is no funding for a new headquarters for the Emergency Services Authority, or any upgrade for the current inadequate building in Curtin. We have promises for additional police officers, but they will not be ready for work until 2007. “Would you please hold the line and wait until 2007?” That is two years away. That is not good enough when the need exists now to keep our police stations open for 24 hours a day and to enhance the response capability of our police.
The funding for the joint emergency services centres at Belconnen and West Belconnen has been withdrawn. A key question here for the minister is: how many sworn officers are on duty in the ACT region of the AFP today? I challenge the minister to provide that information.
It is hard to know where the Planning Minister was during the budget deliberations, because he does not seem to have been in cabinet. At a time when the ACT’s planning system is acknowledged as one of the most ineffective and inefficient in Australia, what do we have in this budget? Staff cuts! The minister said yesterday, “Somewhere between nine and 11.” That would be 10, minister, if you have forgotten the number that comes between nine and 11.
The inevitable consequence of this will be even longer delays in gaining building approvals, associated with increased building costs and increased frustration because of the land regime that this government has put in place. The building and housing sectors need encouragement at present as they experience a slowdown, not more costly delays.
There is a little surprise in the budget for justice. For those of us that have been watching the prison, the cost of the proposed prison is now $130 million, and rising. The real question is: is that in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 dollars? Chief Minister, you forgot to put the notation on it.
The Human Rights Commission is already becoming an administrative monster, devouring public resources at an enormous rate and breeding SES officers without due care or attention.
The ACT is meant to be the most business friendly jurisdiction in Australia. What an outcome! A cut of $4 million to BusinessACT; reduced spending on our major industry, tourism; increased imposts, particularly in Civic and on the outdoor cafes; and absolutely no relief from payroll tax. What more can I say? The business sector in the ACT is—and it should be—disappointed with this budget.
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