Page 1732 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 4 June 2014
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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, when will this project commence?
MS GALLAGHER: It will commence once the project has been agreed to by cabinet.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Minister, when will this project be completed?
MS GALLAGHER: The construction timetable will depend on the decisions taken by the cabinet. That is linked to the date of commencement. So those decisions have not been taken. But I would say that this budget provides $122 million for the continued implementation of the health infrastructure program, funding a range of different projects including refurbishments at the Canberra Hospital. We are continuing to review and revise the health infrastructure program as we need to based on the decisions we take year by year.
For example, when the health infrastructure program began, there was not agreement around a new subacute public hospital. So we have agreed to that and that requires us to reconsider other elements and stagings. Basically, we need to ensure that we have the maximum bed capacity in 2021-22, which is the peak of the demand for beds across the public health system. We are planning to reach that bed requirement by that date.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
MRS JONES: Chief Minister, how will this $800 million project be funded?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mrs Jones for the question. I think the budget has shown the preparedness of this government to make provision for large infrastructure projects. We have made provision, and we have also made space within the budget to fund those projects. The health infrastructure project is the largest infrastructure project being run by the government and it will require continued capital investment over the next 10 years to ensure that we have enough capacity to meet the peak in demand for health services in the territory.
Transport—light rail
MR COE: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Minister, can you confirm that the rapid business case prepared for the Capital Metro Agency encourages the government, when considering developments in the ACT in relation to the Gungahlin to city corridor, “deliberately favour it over other precincts in the ACT”?
MR CORBELL: That document is a cabinet-in-confidence document and has not yet been released by the government.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
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