Page 2719 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 July 2008
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Infrastructure investment has played a significant part in this. The Chief Minister has highlighted the government’s record on infrastructure planning and delivery. One particular statistic is worth mentioning here. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that the ACT government’s gross fixed capital formation, as a share of the economy, reached the lowest ever point in the territory’s history since self-government in 2001. That is right, in the period immediately following the last Liberal government, our level of gross fixed capital formation reached its lowest ever recorded level in the history of self-government. That was a signal of a Liberal Party that, when in government, failed to invest in infrastructure.
Ever since that time, it has been trending up. Let us just reflect on that again. Under the Liberal Party, the level of investment in infrastructure reached an all-time low, as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. But since 2001, it has been moving upwards because, unlike those opposite, this government is committed to investing in infrastructure and has done so in a very significant way.
Canberrans are used to and expect high-quality infrastructure. In response to this expectation, the government places a heavy emphasis on the importance of delivering new, quality infrastructure in a timely way. We are also conscious to carefully plan for and support the growth of the city by investing heavily in our physical asset base. The examples of this commitment by the government are numerous, but I would be pleased to mention a few here.
Of course, the Gungahlin Drive extension is, itself, a very important piece of new infrastructure that provides improved access from Gungahlin and the new northern developments to other suburbs of Canberra. The Canberra Glassworks in Kingston is now up and running, providing a premier arts and tourist facility. The schools renewal and upgrade program is delivering new preschool to year 10 schools in Gungahlin, Tuggeranong and Belconnen and has upgraded already 72 schools across the territory. A new correctional facility has been constructed that will operate according to human rights principles. Measures are also underway to secure the territory’s water supply, including enlarging the Cotter dam. These are significant improvements and significant levels of investment.
I would like to speak briefly about the Alexander Maconochie Centre in particular, because it is one directly relevant to my portfolio. Contracts that have been let to date in relation to this project include the engagement of the program manager, the engagement of design consultants, early earthworks construction, bulk earthworks construction and main construction contracts. At 30 June, we are 95 per cent complete on this project and the build and the project are on time and on budget.
Mr Seselja: On budget?
MR CORBELL: Unlike the Leader of the Opposition and the myth he likes to propagate, this project is on time and on budget. The buildings generally have good orientation to minimise heat gain in summer and promote free heating, good shading to reduce summer heat, high levels of roof, wall and floor insulation and a range of other measures to improve their energy and water efficiency. Building materials have
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