Page 1454 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2009
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I note that in Mr Barr’s speech on this matter he talked about the importance of providing facilities to all. I suggest that he go up to Gungahlin and ask the community there what they think of his provision of community and recreational sporting facilities in Gungahlin. I think he will get a very different message.
I hope that as we move forward and as the planning occurs, in your role as planning minister for the new suburbs in Molonglo, we do not have the same errors that were made in Gungahlin and we make sure that, as community grows, we have, correspondingly, the sporting and recreational facilities required for a growing community.
In my own community, my own suburbs of Weston Creek, I see a lack of recreational facilities. As you noted, I think the government agrees, but I actually experience this. I go to the nets at the local Holder oval with my son; they are unusable and the oval there is unusable. It is a disgrace.
What was our approach at the last election? Certainly we took forward a great number of very good policies which would have made a significant difference to this community. The Canberra Liberals said that they would contribute—and we would have—an addition $5 million over the next four years to drought-proof our sporting facilities, the bulk of the extra investment to be loaded up front in the next 18 months. What about community grants? Let me quote:
The Canberra Liberals will provide a new category of grants to fund coaching and umpiring courses, first-aid and sports medicine courses and other training to assist club administrators and volunteers. These grants will be provided under the expanded Community Grants program.
That is a great policy, something the likes of which we do not see from Labor. What about community sport and recreation field officers? I quote again:
The expanded Community Grants program will be used to provide funding for Community Sport and Recreation Field Officers based in local clubs. These part-time field officers will work closely with local community groups and schools to increase participation in sport, active recreation and physical activity programs.
We would have provided better facilities. I quote again:
The Canberra Liberals will deliver a capital works funding model that will provide for regular investment in public sporting facilities in every budget, not just in election years.
The Canberra Liberals will provide additional funding for capital works, totalling $24 million over four years. This funding will be divided into three categories.
And so on. There are other great initiatives for equestrian facilities, a Bruce-Lyneham-EPIC sports precinct and so on.
Mr Barr: If it was such a good policy why did your vote go backwards?
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