Page 1926 - Week 05 - Thursday, 5 May 2011
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We have the additional challenge of an ageing population and an impending health tsunami, and, for the first time in our history, life expectancy is predicted to decline. Add to this the continuing impacts of the credit-fuelled financial crisis and the inherent unsustainability of promoting consumption growth. We have never before had such a range of policy challenges to address in such a short period of time.
Optimistically, we are in perhaps the historically unique position of not only knowing what the problems are and understanding their consequences but also knowing many of the solutions. We need contemporary fiscal policy to address these challenges. We must not underestimate the power of our fiscal policy to affect positive change but equally to further entrench problems and prevent solutions. Failing to act now does not just delay things; it actively makes them worse. We cannot have changes overnight and no-one expects the problems to be solved in a single budget. But we need clear direction and for that to be progressed as quickly as possible.
This budget does, however, include some positive signs of change and a range of initiatives that will begin the task of addressing the challenges of the future. It also has a close eye on the needs of the community here today. The Greens acknowledge and appreciate the government’s efforts in delivering on some very important initiatives. We are also very pleased that initiatives that the Greens put forward have been funded in this year’s budget. Again the parliamentary agreement has delivered real outcomes for the people of Canberra. These are efficient and relatively inexpensive initiatives that will deliver tangible outcomes for the community both in the short and the longer term.
More public housing properties will receive much-needed energy efficiency upgrades. New services will be provided to people with mental illness. There will now be street-level recycling in Civic, new and improved cycling and walking paths, better bus services, particularly for people in west Belconnen, and more Canberra kids will now have access to swimming lessons. The Greens are pleased to have secured these outcomes for the community.
We continue to enjoy a relatively prosperous economy. The traditional measures put us as one of, if not the, leading Australian economy. There has been no double-dip recession and while the global economic outlook is still a little precarious with a range of short-term risks it appears unlikely there will be a major economic downturn. The most immediate risk for the ACT remains commonwealth government expenditure decisions. Certainly the signs from the federal government in the lead-up to next week’s federal budget are ominous for the ACT. We recognise that we have a limited capacity to limit this risk in a short time frame. Nevertheless it is prudent to actively tackle the issue and to do our best to build sustainable economic activity outside of the commonwealth public service.
The most pressing issue when considering economic reform is of course jobs. To maintain the current low unemployment level we need to be aware of the global trend and every increasing demand for sustainable products and services. The Greens believe that creating opportunities for employment—that is, meaningful, fulfilling and sustainable employment—should be a priority of any government. We all know that a
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