Page 1714 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 4 June 2014
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Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just resume your seat, Ms Gallagher. Stop the clock.
Mr Hanson: That is what he said.
MS GALLAGHER: You cannot help yourself, can you?
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ms Gallagher, please. Mr Hanson, I have asked you to remain silent while Ms Gallagher is on her feet, and I ask you again. The next time you speak, I will warn you. Ms Gallagher.
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. So it is great that we have had the opportunity to discuss the budget to date. The feedback that I have received in the last 24 hours has been overwhelmingly positive, with the view that the territory government is steering the ACT economy in the right direction, underpinned by decisions taken in this budget that will stabilise the economy, that will instil confidence in the economy and that, importantly, will outline a vision for this city in light of the fact that there is no-one else prepared to outline a vision for this city. The commonwealth government certainly does not have one and the ACT needs one. And they get it from this budget.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (11.18): I, too, rise in support of Dr Bourke’s motion supporting the ACT budget as being one of positivity for the ACT economy against the stark comparison of what the federal Liberals have provided for Canberra. Despite the fact that in this budget alone we see a loss of $80 million from the commonwealth through cuts to grants for health and education among other items from the ACT’s bottom line, this government is continuing to work to build and transform Canberra not only for the short term but for generations to come.
Brindabella continues to be a place for growth and development. Residents of this area will be able to see where the budget directly affects them through upgrades to local health, education and TAMS services locally while seeing the larger announcements that have been previously discussed.
Since opening earlier this year the rebuilt Tuggeranong health centre has been an outstanding success and a key asset to the Brindabella community. The government is committed to continuing and expanding these services, including the Tuggeranong walk-in clinic that will open this year. As part of the expansions to the health centre, the ACT government is injecting another 4.5 full-time equivalent staff members into the centre at a cost of over $2 million. These additions to health services in Tuggeranong are just one part of the larger health budget, with an extra $285 million going towards extra health services. This includes an extra 31 hospital beds and 500 elective procedures a year. This again shows a stark comparison between the ACT and commonwealth governments in their commitment to the people of Canberra.
The ACT budget allocates another $1.4 million in upgrades to childcare centres in Tuggeranong. Bunyarra in Chisholm and Salem in Kambah are now set to experience
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