Page 403 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 December 2008
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will make. The response from many individuals who will receive support under these measures just went to show how much they do need that support before Christmas. While not written about in the Canberra Times, many businesses and households in the ACT environment will also benefit from the funding allocated or brought forward as part of the government’s attempt to boost the economy and improve Assembly management and accountability.
On the education side, much-needed funding for schools and P&C associations will enable them to plan for the new school year. First home buyers will be better placed to get into their new homes in the ACT, with the commonwealth government’s additional first home buyers grant. Being a commonwealth scheme that the ACT government will administer, this does not represent a cost impost to the ACT. Funding brought forward for the arboretum will continue that work already in place. It is adequately maintained and work underway will continue, with contracts that are in place.
We share the concerns of the opposition that some aspects of the bill appear less critical than others but, on closer examination and in consultation with Treasury officials, we consider a number of these too are time critical if the Assembly and the ACT government are to play a leading role in working with the community, business groups and the commonwealth government at this time. We consider there is a need, however, to spend some time tonight going through the line items to seek, through the course of the debate which follows, as much information as possible before voting on the bill. In addition, as I said, there are options available following the debate to raise issues with officials in annual report hearings and committee hearings.
I indicated yesterday in this place that it was not possible to predict the impact on all sectors of the global economic crisis that is now upon us. Mr Smyth from the opposition seemed to think that this was possible. I doubt that we would find references in Hansard from earlier this year where he alerted the Assembly to his concern in this regard.
While interest rates and petrol prices have fallen rapidly in recent months, the ACT has been under extreme pressure due to the high interest rates of early 2008 and abnormally high petrol prices. The recent reductions in interest rates and petrol prices, while very welcome, have not had an impact yet and it would be reasonable to suggest that in the current economic climate we need the stimulus that this bill will provide. We will, therefore, support it being passed in its present form.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women) (8.02), in reply: There is no-one else?
Mr Smyth: Were you expecting us all to speak?
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, I was actually.
Mr Smyth: We’ll get to you in the detail stage.
MS GALLAGHER: Right, you’re going to get me in the detail stage.
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