Page 3356 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
now see out of the mouths of the spokesperson for the Liberal Party their philosophical position.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR STANHOPE: There is a divide. As far as I am concerned, it is pleasing, at least, to have such a clear distinction between the essential philosophical approach of the alternative government and to my government, a government that is proud of the achievements in developing a sustainable budget, the preparation to show fiscal responsibility, to take the tough, courageous decisions, to put our budget on the soundest footing it has had in 17 years—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR STANHOPE:—so that we can respond to the reasonable expectations—
MR SPEAKER: The minister’s time has expired. Resume your seat.
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, I warn you.
MS MacDONALD: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Can the Treasurer give the Assembly some examples of how the government is implementing this approach?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you. There are many examples, and they are examples of which we are enormously proud. For instance, since coming to government this government has increased funding for mental health services. When we took government, mental health in the ACT was funded at the lowest level per capita in Australia. There is perhaps no more shameful statistic or fact in relation to the transition from the previous government to this that in this community, in this society, we funded services for mental health at the lowest per capita rate of any place in Australia, despite the fact that we are the wealthiest and the most prosperous community in Australia. That is the sort of priority that the Liberal Party had.
We have increased funding for health by $330 million a year. We have increased funding. We have made up the difference. We have actually made up the difference in the context of the damage that was caused. We have increased funding for education dramatically. As I said, health expenditure has been increased by 80 per cent in six years. Expenditure on children, youth and family services has increased by over 100 per cent, with additional funding for the care and protection of children—substitute care, foster care of children at risk.
Additional disability services have been funded following of course the scarifying report by Justice Gallop through the royal commission of inquiry into disability
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .