Page 522 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 March 2014
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statements from this government around the projects we are going to develop. And we have also been doing a lot of work around attracting investment into the town—not just looking at the local capacity here but looking at national and international capacity. We think these projects provide exciting opportunities for Canberra’s economic development over the next few years.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, how many other plans will the government publish before any action is taken to pursue the priority infrastructure projects?
MS GALLAGHER: We implement all of our plans.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, are these infrastructure projects pushed out to 15 years or more because the government is spending all of its capital on the light rail?
MS GALLAGHER: If Mr Smyth thinks that the ACT government should and could fund the convention facility as the priority for our capital funds, I would argue that he does not have his priorities right. If you think the priority for $350 million worth of ACT taxpayers’ funds is a convention facility as opposed to hospitals, schools, public transport and public amenity, which are all demands that the community want to see funded, I would argue that you have got your priorities wrong. However, the ACT government should be a partner and should support the facilitation of that project. If we can, we would look at areas where, for example, we could bring land to the negotiations. But we do not believe that we should be funding that entire project, and that is why we are lobbying the commonwealth—that is probably why Mr Seselja is lobbying the commonwealth; that is why he is lobbying his colleagues—to facilitate federal government interest in the project and hopefully some private sector investment.
Schools—My School data
MR GENTLEMAN: My question is to the minister for education and relates to the latest data on the My School website. Minister, what did this show about the performance of ACT schools?
MS BURCH: I thank Mr Gentleman for his interest. Recently the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority released the latest update of the My School website. I am pleased to advise that the information on the website shows that the ACT government’s significant investment in education is paying off in the strong results of our students.
My School provides the community with an opportunity to learn more about Australian schools and for schools to learn more about each other. ACT public schools are on average around 13 per cent per student better funded than the average Australian school. And we continue to invest in public education to ensure quality outcomes for all our students, irrespective of where they live, their circumstances or the school they attend.
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