Page 1873 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 June 2014
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I am particularly pleased that a range of health items identified in the parliamentary agreement have been funded in this budget, with funding for the secure mental health unit and other mental health funding such as $1 million per year for expanding the community mental health sector, $2 million for improving suicide prevention services and funds to implement the amendments to the mental health legislation.
I also welcome the additional funding towards the ACT concessions program, of $6.65 million. In direct contrast to the federal government, the ACT is seeking to insulate those who are most vulnerable against rising costs. The emergency responses for disability services and the continuation of the therapy assistance program are also very welcome initiatives.
A review of the TAMS parks and city services operations gave TAMS a strong endorsement in terms of being a lean and efficient organisation. This budget has allocated an additional $15.2 million over four years to cover the cost pressures that TAMS has had in maintaining our parks and open spaces.
This budget delivers $9.6 million over the next four years to cover the cost of servicing our new suburban areas, for things such as roads and paths, street lighting, garbage collection, mowing, litter picking and so on. These are the very services that I regularly get letters from people about, saying that these are important things. We see in this budget a real commitment to delivering those services.
While it is true that the ACT is under financial pressure at the moment, as the commonwealth storm passes through, I believe that we need to continue to invest in our city. We need to build resilience, while carefully managing our resources. We are a progressive city and we are a green city. I want to see Canberra continue to be a place of excellence in regard to sustainability.
Light rail is a good example of Canberra’s continued progress despite the obstacles and challenges that are put in our way. The budget consolidates the capital metro project through ongoing funding for the Capital Metro Agency and through the large reserve of capital funding for this and other projects. Light rail is not just a vision for a more sustainable, vibrant and convenient Canberra. It is also a sound economic project that will stimulate jobs, stimulate the economy, stimulate activity and redevelopment and change the way our city is perceived. These all work as remedies to the economic constraints imposed by the commonwealth. Despite the one-eyed denigration from the Canberra Liberals—obligatory because it is in their political DNA—the evidence for light rail looks good, with an economic return of $2.30 for every dollar invested, thousands of jobs, and an unparalleled ability to stimulate development and to attract passengers.
The $1.5 million to fund the design and business case for the Australia forum is very welcome—an inclusion that we inserted into the parliamentary agreement. I am a strong supporter of this project and the benefits that it will bring to our city. The territory’s conference and business events sector is a sector that has been growing steadily through the work of the Canberra Convention Bureau and others. The new convention centre has the potential to vastly expand this sector, by up to three times,
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