Page 3135 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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I guess that is where I philosophically come out a little differently from Mrs Dunne, in that I do not think we can keep on increasing supply.
We saw in the minister’s recent ministerial statement on water the massive decrease in inflows into the ACT’s water supply system. The rain will not keep coming and we do have to become a more water efficient city. So I think we need to look at better balance in where we are spending our money.
I think that we are going to have to keep a very close eye on the Actew budget and the way Actew is pricing some of its projects. We are going to clearly need to go back to the ICRC because, of course, all of these cost increases are passed through to the ACT community. There is no question now that, in light of these changes to the costs of major infrastructure, the ICRC has been recommended to update its analysis of the cost of the major water security projects. The Greens support this, in light of the comments that have been made, because we need to get the full and true story on the table so that we can know what we are facing.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Proposed expenditure—Part 1.21—Canberra Institute of Technology, $64,769,000 (net cost of outputs) and $13,967,000 (capital injection), totalling $78,736,000.
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (1.20 am): I must note on this line item the propensity for the minister for education, as I have been noting all night, to take advantage of media opportunities. His timing today was impeccable. It seems the minister has timed his announcement of the extra scholarship to CIT to coincide with today’s business. It obviously gives him a good news story to spin. Well done.
Mr Barr: It was in the budget, Steve. It is a pretty important initiative.
MR DOSZPOT: I am complimenting you, Mr Barr. I know it is late. CIT provides an important training facility in the ACT landscape, particularly at a critical time when there is talk of increasing the school leaving age to 17. CIT also plays a major part in addressing the serious skills shortages that exist currently in the ACT. The $400,000 budget this year for the master plan and capital works for the CIT is there to look at options for improving the infrastructure of ageing facilities. I note that commonwealth funding for infrastructure may be sought to boost this and will assist in bringing the buildings and facilities up to standard.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (1.22 am): The ACT Greens are particularly pleased to see a focus in the CIT budget on green technologies and industry partnerships through a proposal to construct a facility—electrotechnology training at the Fyshwick Trade Skills Centre. We understand that the $9.9 million to be invested over four years will provide the training and equipment needed for students as we move towards improving our capacity to handle the challenges that climate change presents.
When we look at the focus on climate proofing for new housing and buildings and the recent stimulus packages from the commonwealth and the ACT government, there is
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