Page 109 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 December 2008
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As an immediate step, the Chief Minister convened a round table on 25 November with representatives of the business, development, industry, tourism and education sectors to start a dialogue on working together to address the local effects of the global financial crisis. Since that meeting, several round tables have been held including one on infrastructure which I convened on Thursday, 4 December.
This meeting was a productive discussion on the types of infrastructure projects that could be undertaken in the ACT to drive investment and spending. We are looking at a range of government and capital infrastructure projects to accelerate. These will range from building projects through to smaller initiatives which will provide certainty for subcontractors and small businesses that deliver these programs for the government. We are looking very closely at all possible ways of removing blockages to the delivery of our projects and accelerating the planning and delivery of projects.
The discussion also focused on what the private and non-government sectors can do to contribute to this. We know that there are around $3 billion worth of projects likely to come on line over the coming years through private investment. I have asked Treasury to closely monitor the unfolding global and national situation and their impacts on the ACT economy. Our massive health system rebuild will also play its part in stabilising the local economy as we continue through the design, planning and construction phases for new facilities including the women’s and children’s hospital.
The government is also injecting money into a program to encourage local tourism and for people to spend money here in the ACT. This is particularly important in these final weeks before Christmas. The supplementary appropriation, which I tabled in this sitting period, is a decisive action to address some of the immediate impacts on those most vulnerable and to provide some initiatives that support the economic capacity of the territory.
This government will also focus on enhanced accountability and transparency. This has never been more important than in these times. Heading into the next budget, we will keep the community informed and will remain engaged with industry and business to undertake effective and sensible measures to stabilise the economy. We have already indicated that we are looking at better ways in which to consult the community on its priorities and what it values.
Madam Assistant Speaker, we know that high quality heath care is a government service that is highly valued by the community. That is why it is a cornerstone of the government’s agenda. ACT Labor knows that every member of our community depends on our public heath system. This term we will build on our achievements. We will respond to the community’s needs, invest in the territory’s future and deliver on the commitments.
Our prudent planning and economic management has allowed us to earmark $1 billion investment in re-building our public heath facilities and getting our service system ready for the future. We know that long-term achievable solutions are needed to address the demand for health services and we know that that will continue to increase. We are working with the community, the medical professions and other stakeholders
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