Page 1416 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 April 2013
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ailing population, technological change and community preferences driving strong growth in demand for health services over the decade.
During the 2012 election we committed to finalise and complete a range of projects already funded. For example, in my electorate there is the Belconnen community health centre, the Canberra regional cancer centre, which obviously is very much welcomed by my electorate, and the emergency department expansion at both Canberra Hospital and the Calvary Public Hospital.
In addition, we committed $250 million to deliver ACT Labor’s priorities—for example, $850,000 for a birth centre at Calvary Public Hospital; $5 million to expand the nurse-led walk-in centres in Tuggeranong and Belconnen as we go out into the suburbs with that model; progressing the University of Canberra public hospital; approximately $20 million to fit out new wards and facilities to house additional beds and services at Calvary hospital and additional in-patient beds at Canberra Hospital. Our commitment to build on significant investments that ACT Labor has already made in health facilities over the past four years is obvious. A critical success factor for each one of these is the opportunity for our nurses and doctors to work in high-class facilities which will meet the needs of patients over the coming years.
ACT Labor has also delivered record levels of funding for schools infrastructure. We have provided $162 million worth of school capital works upgrades and new facilities through the school renewal program to make sure students are getting the very best education wherever they live. This is on top of general capital works and maintenance worth $13.2 million annually.
I could go on to list what we have done in various schools, but just as an example, we have built new schools in new suburbs worth around $250 million. Kingsford Smith School, of course, has been built in my electorate. We have seen the establishment of the CIT Learning Centre. These have been opened in the last three years. New schools at Bonner and Franklin will also open for students in the 2013 year.
The ACT government also recognises the importance of public housing. I have been very pleased to see the establishment of a number of aged persons units in my electorate in particular. As we know, these are very central as our population ages.
Considerable work is being undertaken in the ACT generally to make sure the city continues to meet the needs of all Canberrans. To achieve this, we need an integrated, imaginative and clear blueprint for our city, our suburbs and our town centres.
MR COE (Ginninderra) (11.42): I welcome this opportunity to discuss issues of planning, consultation and investment in infrastructure in the city centre and across the whole of Canberra. This motion notes the importance of an integrated, imaginative and clear blueprint for our city, our suburbs and our town centres. What does this mean? There is no doubt that planning is important, particularly as Canberra goes into the future—our second century. However, planning involves more than just glossy brochures and artist’s impressions. The Canberra Liberals look forward to hearing more details from the government about how it plans to improve the city centre. We
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