Page 587 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 11 February 2009
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economy, and this is a lot more important now as our economic circumstances start to weaken. The need for the government to continue our investment program underpins the territory’s ability to move through these economically tough times. Investment in our productive assets underpins the territory’s ability to support jobs and provide confidence for businesses and communities.
The government’s achievements in the area of infrastructure delivery are unparalleled. The government fully appreciates the significance of public infrastructure and, in particular, how the delivery of essential infrastructure contributes to the delivery of high-quality services. That is why we have placed such a huge emphasis on the maintenance and provision of high-quality infrastructure since we came to office.
As outlined in the Assembly several times last year, we have a proven track record in delivery—record expenditure, record commitments. The comparison of our delivery of capital works to that of those opposite could not be more stark. Let us look at the facts. When we came to office in 2001, the average annual expenditure on capital works by the Liberal government between 1998-99 and 2000-01 was around $76 million. The average expenditure by this government over the last seven years was $159 million—twice as much as the Liberals. The average expenditure by the Stanhope government over the last three years was $221 million, almost three times as much as the Liberals. For the 2007-08 year, we have spent a record amount, totalling $283 million. That is over 3½ times what those opposite were able to deliver.
This year, the budget papers forecast a record level of expenditure, at about $500 million. This is five times higher than the spend during the last year of the previous Liberal government. This is the comparison, Mr Speaker. We have planned and delivered at levels that those opposite simply were not able to achieve.
The continuing attacks on the government’s performance regarding the delivery of capital works simply do not add up. Just one year’s expenditure by this government eclipses the expenditure in a whole term of the Liberal government. I am sure those opposite will continue to point to underspends and delays but the facts are that we are spending 3½ times more now than those opposite ever planned for or ever delivered.
We do acknowledge that expenditure on capital programs can sometimes be delayed. However, this is often due to factors which are largely outside the control of government. Factors such as workforce ability due to the high level of construction activity which has been experienced in the ACT over recent years, weather conditions, legal proceedings and the need to carefully schedule works to minimise disruptions and maintain continuity of services all impact on the government’s ability to deliver programs on time. But those opposite continue to focus merely on cash expenditure profiles—estimates undertaken at the beginning of a project. We all understand that there can be difficulties in managing cash profiles for complex projects that extend over multiple years, but this does not negate our ability to deliver quality infrastructure to the ACT community.
Given all the factors which can influence the delivery of the program and the size of the capital works program, the government’s delivery record is a significant achievement. Over the last few weeks, I have been putting together the details of the
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