Page 2263 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 June 2013
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ACT community expects of us. That is why this budget includes funding to commence 70 per cent of our election commitments and delivers the next stage of reforms for a fairer and more efficient tax system.
Canberrans expect us to respond to the challenges of the time, not least the buffeting our economy has taken through contracting federal government spending and the drain on confidence created by the promises of the federal opposition. And that is why the budget has a strong focus on maintaining confidence in our housing and construction industries, in our growing health sector, in the education sector, in ICT and, of course, in thousands of Canberra households. Our track record shows we can and will keep making this city even better, and the 2013-14 budget lays out a plan for Canberra as we move into our second century.
Here lies one of the great chasms between the major political parties in this city. We have a plan for a fair and prosperous Canberra, with jobs, infrastructure, health and education systems and services which really are the envy of the nation. The federal Liberal Party has a plan to send Canberra into recession, and the Canberra Liberals do not have a plan at all. Mr Hanson rolled out the standard misleading response on radio this morning in one breath, “You should be spending more, building more, employing more people, funding more programs, rates and government fees should never, ever go up,” and then in the next, “You should be saving more, there should be no deficit.” That is not how balancing a budget works.
The stark contrast between the two sides of the Assembly traces back to the 2012 election and beyond. The government have a vision for what Canberra can be. We believe in creating a city where public services and infrastructure are world class and creating an environment where the private sector and the community can both thrive. With $1.3 billion allocated for infrastructure and capital projects over the next four years, support for our construction sector and money for those infrastructure projects, the 2013-14 budget will deliver urban renewal and will support our economy. And that was acknowledged at the budget breakfast this morning and, indeed, by stakeholders in their response to the government.
Major infrastructure cannot be built overnight and it cannot be built without proper planning and development, which is why the measures in this budget are part of a long-term plan. An economy cannot be completely restructured overnight, which is why we are delivering tax reform incrementally and investing strategically in industry diversification under the growth, diversification and jobs framework. The government fully understands the ACT’s place in the regional, national and global economies. We understand that responsible economic management is about careful planning and decision making over the longer term.
Our investments in health and education services and infrastructure reflect the government’s absolute commitment to the health and wellbeing of the Canberra community. We are a relatively young community but we are growing and we are ageing, and that is why we are looking ahead and investing to make sure Canberra continues to enjoy a world-class health system. The overall investment in health in this budget is $1.3 billion, growth of around seven per cent on last year. This funding will deliver more services, more beds, shorter waiting times and more jobs for health
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