Page 1615 - Week 05 - Thursday, 15 May 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
that is before we get to the really big-ticket items in relation to health and education. So all of these factors are combining to have an impact on our budget and the level of services that we can provide to this community, and it is being felt in the hip pockets of individual households.
Mrs Jones: Now you care about the hip pockets.
MR BARR: It is an interesting interjection from those opposite, a fascinating interjection, and speaks volumes really for their contribution to this debate. There was ample opportunity for Mrs Jones to speak.
Mr Smyth: She might try.
MR BARR: She might try now? So if I had not stood, this debate would have concluded without any contribution from those opposite.
I have spoken extensively on the budget and economic matters throughout my time as Treasurer, in this place and in many others, in relation to the—
Mr Smyth: Not last year.
MR BARR: No, I did not speak on one of your motions, Mr Smyth. That is true. The Chief Minister spoke on behalf of the government in relation to that motion. That is true. But on matters of the economy, of budgets and the like, I speak regularly, and on the impacts of commonwealth government decisions on the ACT and, most particularly, in relation to the decisions that we take here in our own budget.
Obviously I will have a lot more to say about that as we approach the delivery of the 2014-15 territory budget, which, as I said in question time, will be one of the most challenging budgets, most difficult budgets to frame, in this territory for two decades. There is no doubting that. However, we will approach that task with a view to collaborating with the private sector, particularly to attract new investment in the economy.
I mention a number of examples of such partnerships. We have a number underway at the moment, and we look forward to delivery of a number of new partnerships whereby government investment will leverage significant private sector investment. And there are examples in every region of our city, from Southquay in Tuggeranong, through to the Woden bus interchange upgrades in the Woden Valley, through to new investment in the Weston Creek group centre, through to the Molonglo Valley, through to the inner south with new land releases and infill opportunities that are associated particularly with Kingston Foreshore but also with other areas in the inner south, through to the city to the lake project and development in Braddon, Dickson, Downer and along the Northbourne corridor, in that inner north part of the city, and through to investments in the Gungahlin town centre that are extensive and ongoing.
I look forward to the opening of the new aquatic centre in Belconnen in coming weeks, in partnership with the University of Canberra, and the Riverview development in west Belconnen. So we are making strategic investments in the territory’s
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video