Page 1730 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 4 June 2014
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Mr Smyth tells us he cannot find the stimulus in this budget. Well, Madam Speaker, I am just looking at a press release from the Association of Independent Schools. It applauds the ACT government’s initiatives in stimulating the ACT economy. The association can find it; I do not know why Mr Smyth cannot.
The Chief Minister correctly contrasted our budget with the federal budget, a federal budget designed to hurt the poor, the sick and the young. Our budget invests in Canberra’s future. It is a budget for the times. Those commonwealth cuts, particularly in health, take $375 million over four years out of the ACT economy with 6,500 jobs to go and with no federal assistance at all, unlike what we have seen provided for other states. The Canberra Liberals cannot engage; they will not engage.
Our budget is about growing infrastructure—infrastructure which Mr Smyth could not seem to find in the budget papers—through the University of Canberra public hospital, the Coombs school, the Australia forum—a subject which should be very dear to his heart since he bleats about it so often in this place—the capital metro and tax reform. And let us talk about tax reform. It is the foundation for building a strong ACT economy. It is a tax reform which is simpler, fairer and more efficient. There are cuts to payroll tax, cuts to stamp duty, cuts to insurance duty and a land tax which is fairer for residential landlords.
The budget allocates $2.5 billion for health and education, $328 million for economic growth, $693 million for urban renewal, and $968 million for further liveability and opportunity for all Canberrans.
In the health budget we have heard more about more beds, more cancer care, more elective surgery and more infrastructure, such as the car park for Calvary hospital and the secure mental health unit. Supporting those health budget initiatives are the healthy lifestyle initiatives: the healthy weight initiative, in particular combating obesity; $4.8 million for walking and cycling infrastructure; $10 million for sport and recreation; upgrading the tennis facilities at Lyneham sports centre; funding to run the new Gungahlin Leisure Centre; and continuing the Active Kids Challenge.
In education there is more money for childcare centre upgrades and the smart schools ICT upgrade, bringing the 21st century into our Canberra classrooms. As to the CIT, how can I go past the fact that the Canberra Liberals actually forgot the CIT in their 2012 election commitments? They did not know it existed, but $69 million has not been forgotten by ACT Labor as part of our study for Canberra initiative. Then, of course, we have digital Canberra: ICT, $75 million over four years; iConnect, bringing a better, more efficient and more effective way for citizens and business to interact with government; and smart parking machines, not only solar powered but credit card ready.
Then we look at the community commitments: $1.6 million for more school-based therapy, $2.2 million for disability care providers, and $4.1 million for out-of-home care services. As the Property Council said, and I reiterate, this is a budget for our times. I commend the motion.
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