Page 2146 - Week 06 - Thursday, 26 June 2008
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program. It is no different than for any government since self-government. It is sobering, in fact interesting, to look at the capital budgets pre-2002 when this government came to power and look at the level of expenditure and the level of delivery of capital works in those years prior to this government coming to office seven years ago.
I think the highest level of capital expenditure in a single year by the previous government was $89 million. That was the highest level of commitment, $89 million. In the last financial year, we delivered $314 million of capital on the ground. The Liberal Party, in its previous time in government, only ever budgeted for $89 million and of course it delivered only two-thirds of that. The Liberal Party’s capacity to deliver capital in government was to the tune of somewhere around $60 million. This government last year delivered $314 million of capital on the ground. The Liberals’ capacity, the Liberals’ record, in relation to the management and construction of projects in this town, is that its big year, its big spend, was of the order of $80 million, and it managed to deliver $60 million of it.
Let us go to the capacity and the way in which it delivered this capital program. Let us think back, let us cast back: which capital projects from this mythical Liberal capacity to deliver major projects or capital springs to mind when we think of the Liberal years in government? Come on, stretch your imagination.
Mr Gentleman: Bruce Stadium.
MR STANHOPE: Bruce Stadium? Yes. Is not that interesting? The Liberal Party’s capacity to deliver major capital projects? Think back. Come on; let us have a little brainstorm here. Bruce Stadium. Let us think a bit more deeply. The demolition of the Canberra Hospital. Yes, that is right. Think more. Come on; think expansively. The Liberal Party’s capacity to deliver capital projects? Highest ever allocation, $80 million; highest spend, about $60 million.
Last year, in delivering over $300 million of capital, this government delivered more capital on the ground than the Liberal Party did in five years. In one year, we delivered more than the Liberal Party delivered in five years in government. Its biggest ever delivery was $60 million. Come on, keep thinking back. Which capital projects, when you think about the Liberal Party in government, in power, spring to your mind?
Mr Gentleman: I’m struggling.
MR STANHOPE: You struggle, don’t you? The thing that comes to mind immediately is Bruce Stadium, and we know what a roaring success that was. The second thing that comes to mind is the demolition of the Canberra Hospital. That was a roaring success in relation to the management of capital. Impulse Airlines. Yes, it is still there; it is still there to see, a beautiful hangar out at the Canberra airport. It is a pity that Impulse Airlines went broke before the hangar was constructed.
So there you have it. Just think about the Liberal Party’s capacity to deliver capital; think back to their years in government; think of the level of their expenditure; think of the proportion of the expenditures they delivered; and then think of the projects that represent the Liberal Party’s legacy.
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