Page 2268 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 June 2013
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are looking to buy their first home and these savings will ease the pressures that they continue to face.
This government is committed to transforming the capital and these announcements mean real improvements to the local community. This budget provides affordable health care to residents, with out-of-hours care available and care in the home for those who need it. We are providing upgrades to schools, with a particular emphasis on introductory English and special needs, as well as ensuring that while Brindabella continues to grow, the infrastructure grows with it. I commend the motion.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra) (11.53): I think it is important for good governance in this territory that all views are heard on the financial management of our government, and I thank everyone for their contributions to this debate.
Before I move on, I would like to note that we might just have witnessed Mr Smyth’s final speech as shadow treasurer, and to acknowledge the contribution that he has made to this position. I look forward to seeing who Mr Hanson chooses as his shadow treasury spokesperson after the post-Seselja reshuffle. It might be Val. Bring on Val, hey?
It is clear to me that we on this side of the chamber have a vision for our city that is articulated in the budget, and those opposite do not. As Mr Barr said yesterday:
The reforms and funding outlined in this Budget demonstrate the Government’s commitment to implementing its plan to build and transform our economy and create opportunity and fairness for all Canberrans. This plan will deliver—
it will deliver, Mr Smyth—
important reforms to ensure Canberra remains a great place in which to live, work, study and do business, and to ensure we grow and prosper in the long term.
Mr Smyth in his speech had a different vision, albeit a narrow, mean-spirited and tired vision. In fact, he might need to head off to the Tuggeranong walk-in centre. There might be some infection in his eyes, because he is lacking vision.
All we have heard this morning from Mr Smyth is the same old rhetoric—spending bad, cutting good. Like a mix tape supplied by the Institute for Public Affairs, Mr Smyth is singing from the song sheet of ideological conservatives from a century and a half ago. The problem is that he is out of tune.
I do not believe that good community infrastructure is a luxury. I do not believe that a modern and accessible health system is a luxury. And I do not believe that funding extra work safety inspectors to make sure that subbies and tradies get home safely is a luxury.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I was happy to see, as you mentioned, that John Knight Memorial Park is receiving an upgrade. As a regular visitor to the park with my children and friends, our favourite part is the waterfall, which the kids like to paddle
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