Page 1330 - Week 04 - Thursday, 8 May 2014
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ACT network. Suddenly they are interested in a staging of the network, but only after they have committed to the first stage.
Given this large investment, why didn’t the government conduct an economic analysis of all the other routes? Why didn’t the government have any plans to expand light rail in the ACT when they announced the Gungahlin to the city route? And why doesn’t the government follow its own advice, and the advice of Infrastructure Australia, and invest in other transport infrastructure which is cheaper and provides better economic returns for the people of Canberra?
We do believe that the delivery of infrastructure is a very important matter of public importance. It is just a shame that this government is not doing a good job.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (4.08): I thank Mr Gentleman for bringing forward this matter this afternoon. There is no doubt that infrastructure has a very important role in creating confidence in the Canberra community and in generating jobs in the territory. The government has long acknowledged this, which is why we have pushed ahead and will continue to push ahead with a significant program of infrastructure spending and delivery.
But before going any further, it is certainly worth reflecting on this, the final sitting of this Assembly before the 25th anniversary of the very first sitting of the Assembly, which was in 1989 on 11 May, I understand—that anniversary comes up this weekend—just how far we have come as a territory in terms of delivering infrastructure. I think that in our very first Assembly, the very first territory budgets had an infrastructure program of well less than $100 million each year. And, in fact, those first few budgets were very tough for the territory, as the adjustment to self-government began.
Ten years ago our capital works budget was just a little over $100 million—$109 million. In 2013-14, our capital works budget is $775 million and we have a four-year infrastructure investment program worth $1.27 billion. Over the last five years alone, the government has significantly boosted investment in infrastructure to grow the economic and social fabric of the territory, starting from an amount of $296 million invested in 2008-09; $580 million in 2009-10, and particularly in that instance with the support of the commonwealth government around investment in our schools and our social housing; $601 million in 2010-11, again supported by the commonwealth government; $572 million in 2011-12; and $578 million in 2012-13.
Over half a billion dollars in direct infrastructure spending each year by this government has helped to transform the city. It has opened up new suburbs, new housing opportunities, new transport infrastructure, new health facilities and new schools. There have been new schools opened each year and expanded vocational, education and training facilities. The region is now more attractive than ever for business investment, as we have seen just today with the announcement from IKEA of their significant investment in the city. We have also become a more attractive destination for international and domestic students as a result of significant infrastructure investment partnerships with the ANU and the University of Canberra.
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