Page 1442 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 6 May 2008
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As I say, we are a community of great expectations, and that is not about to change. We support the highest level of service provision in Australia—at around 122 per cent of the national average.
Yet our taxation levels are middle-of-the-pack.
We do have the strength to withstand some fiscal shocks.
Just as crucially, we have the vision to employ that strength to see that we are ready for the future.
From a position of strength we have been able to prepare and plan proactively, rather than passively accepting what life deals us.
Mr Speaker, the Budget I present today invests—strategically, creatively and boldly—in consolidating that strength.
These are investments that will support economic growth.
They are investments that will allow us to move goods—and people—more swiftly and efficiently around town.
They are investments that will promote scholarly and professional excellence in fields of endeavour that are helping us tackle some of the biggest issues of this century.
Investments made now, for the future.
Initiatives taken now that will deliver social and economic dividends now and later.
The priorities we address with this billion-dollar investment are the priorities of today—the immediate things that confront us. But they are also the priorities of tomorrow. And by making these future priorities ours, we are massively increasing our capacity as a community to be ready for whatever the future brings.
As always, the issues of greatest priority to Canberrans are our priorities: health, education, the environment and climate change.
And because we are a compassionate community, breaking the chronic and intergenerational blight of disadvantage is also crucial.
So is finding ways in which we can meet these priorities.
Increasing the capacity of the economy is important. Economic growth is important.
So is finding ways in which we can grow as a city—but do so sustainably.
We do not want to hand a burdensome legacy to those who come after.
Mr Speaker, the 2008-09 Budget provides for targeted and carefully argued new recurrent spending of $404 million over the next four years—$105.5 million in
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