Page 2356 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 12 August 2014
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MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Housing and Minister for Tourism and Events) (5.27): I will close the debate on this particular section. This directorate was established on 7 July by combining the former Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate with the functions of the former Economic Development Directorate and Commerce and Works Directorate. CMTEDD has the leadership role within the ACT public service and is now providing strategic advice and support to the Chief Minister as the Minister for Higher Education and Minister for Regional Development; to myself as Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Housing; to Minister Burch in the racing and gaming and arts portfolios; to Minister Rattenbury in sport and recreation; and to Minister Gentleman in workplace safety and industrial relations.
This directorate is now also combining forces to provide advice and support to cabinet on policy development, territory budgeting and reporting, financial and economic policy, federal financial relations, service delivery, whole-of-government programs and issues, high value and complex investment development proposals, sport and recreation policies and programs, tourism, government business enterprises, taxation and revenue management, and developing and guiding the land release program to ensure a sustainable return to the territory and stable economic growth. Clearly, it is a key agency in the delivery of the government’s agenda and, indeed, the economic health of the Australian Capital Territory.
My colleagues have outlined in their respective portfolio areas a range of initiatives in the budget. I would like to highlight a number that will have significant benefit in terms of small business development, use of new technology within the territory government, and capacity to bring new international events to our city and to continue our rollout of ACT government office accommodation in Gungahlin and the development of Molonglo and the Lyneham sports precinct. This includes the $53.3 million invested in various ICT initiatives, including iConnect, the hybrid cloud services, invoice automation, e-tendering, an upgrade to the human resources management system and the new revenue office systems.
In the context of events, there is a particular commitment in this year’s budget around the ICC Cricket World Cup that now rounds out, I think, the biggest summer of cricket this city has ever experienced, with the one day international in November, the Prime Minister’s XI and the Big Bash League final in January and then Cricket World Cup events in February.
That is a significant summer of cricket for the ACT made possible by the investments both in the Manuka Oval infrastructure and also the long-term commitments and partnerships with the AFL. Without that, there would have been no economic rationale to invest in Manuka Oval and no prospect of this city securing major events for cricket in the way that we have.
We have also made provision with the Treasury finance areas in this budget to undertake further operational reviews of ACT government activities to continue to drive efficiencies and to ensure that public funds are expended in the best manner possible to achieve the highest level of service delivery at the most affordable cost.
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