Page 2101 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 May 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
We think it is timely to review what the community think about the territory’s economic future. What are their desires for the territory’s economic base and have those desires changed in recent months? National surveys consistently point to a popular desire for a more cautious and resilient approach to economic management, maximising the value of the public sector and not leaving the private sector unregulated or at least unmonitored. What are the views of the residents of the ACT? The Greens believe that in changing directions the ACT government itself needs to walk the talk, showing leadership in how a sound approach to reducing environmental impacts also makes sound business sense.
Our election platform included a clear call for retrofitting of energy and water efficiency technologies into ACT government buildings. We are very pleased that the budget includes funding to help commercial building owners with this important task. Government assistance with retrofitting reduces the payback period of this capital investment as well as providing great opportunities for ACT businesses to supply the products and specialist advice that the scheme will stimulate. Government subsidies will also help local building owners and business occupants prepare for a world where energy, water and waste costs move to more closely reflect their actual impact on the environment. We are keen to ensure that ACT businesses are well placed ahead of the introduction of a price on carbon.
The Greens are pressing for much better sustainability reporting across the ACT government so that we can track progress, and for more measures to improve the sustainability of government purchasing. This too will mean more opportunities for smart local businesses to step in and deliver the services and products needed. The capital works program contained in the budget will help address underspending over the last decade and will help insulate parts of the Canberra economy from international pressures. The Greens are pleased that the government has sought to minimise its external borrowings but are concerned that the real value of these borrowings may not be recognised.
Borrowings are the most expensive part of any deficit, incurring real community burdens through the interest payments required. As these are such a high value item, the Greens need to be able to reassure the community that these borrowings are going to deliver triple-bottom-line returns and, through them, dividends back to the community in the future. Capital works are needed, but we are concerned that the economic weight in this budget relies too much on buildings and infrastructure. The unique qualities of our economy mean that the flow-on impacts to our community are larger at the service delivery end of the spectrum than at the construction end. Our community deserves the best infrastructure it can afford, but we also deserve dedicated, front-line staff able to deliver the health, education, environmental and cultural services we need.
Infrastructure spending needs to deliver medium and long-term social and environmental benefits to the community, not just short-term economic stimulus. To that end, the Greens are looking for signs that new works will minimise heating, cooling, external water use and waste generation, thereby reducing running costs and providing long-term efficiency gains and further savings to the community and environment.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .