Page 2145 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 May 2009
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We’ve got it and it will all be revealed. Yes, we are going to complain about Labor but we have got our own plan.” We are still waiting to hear it. I am still waiting to hear it.
I have not heard one constructive comment or suggestion on how this town can keep its head above water in the global financial crisis. I have not heard one constructive way these guys can balance the books—not one way these people can bring us back towards surplus. Not one. I heard Mr Coe say that he wants to reduce the number of public holidays. That is a good one! I think we should put that in as a policy initiative by the Liberal Party for the next election. Bring it on. It is a shame we cannot bring an election on early.
Mr Coe interjecting—
MR HARGREAVES: I have endured the erratic babbling of Mr Coe sufficiently for one night. He is clearly, to me, a man of no idea, no hope and no courtesy.
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (5.51): I welcome the opportunity to comment on the budget. I notice that the budget volumes are in fact coloured green and I like to think this signifies the fact that the Greens have coloured the budget outcomes. As my Greens colleagues have already emphasised, there are many good green initiatives in this budget to improve the ACT community.
Mr Hargreaves: Second-hand paper.
MS LE COUTEUR: No, recycled. These are very welcome and I am encouraged by the opportunities we have had to move the government towards a new mindset that prioritises democratic principles, social and economic justice as well as environmental sustainability. But there is still a way to go and I look forward to this happening in upcoming budgets.
The Greens are also pleased to hear that ACTPLA is improving its capabilities to undertake mandatory inspections. We know that this is going to cover plumbing and electrical, but the funding needs also to cover energy efficiency and building design and placement issues. As you would be aware, I have an ongoing interest in improving energy efficiency ratings. This is very important because we know that people value it enough that they actually pay more for houses which are higher rated. So it is important that, if they are paying for something, they get what they pay for. I note with approval that an extra $100,000 over four years will be spent to improve ACTPLA’s community engagement and website.
However, I am very disappointed to see there is no commitment in this budget to neighbourhood planning, an item in the Greens-Labor agreement which could address the ongoing problems we have, particularly in older areas which are being in-filled. I have raised this many times in the Assembly already and I believe that good neighbourhood planning processes could save a lot of conflict.
We will also be pushing to ensure that a non-potable water pipeline is provided for the new housing development in Molonglo, as well as the other sustainability initiatives
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