Page 3363 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
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will be even more transparent at the end of next week when the business case is released.
But as members opposite know, there is a process. We have had an industry briefing. It will go to an EOI process. After that point there will be a short list of bidders. It will go through another process and then it will come back for agreement by the ACT cabinet. That is the process that is in place for any PPP. It is the one that we are undertaking for this one, and it does not in any way show any lack of support for the project.
Indeed, we think the opportunities for future-proofing this city by providing it with a modern public transport system that is worthy of the national capital and that supports other infrastructure investments in transport like roads, like buses, like cycleways, like pedestrian paths, like bike and ride, like park and ride—with all of those different components that none of you heard about because you are all shouting at me; so I know I am getting under your skin—when all of that is put together, this is the way forward for the nation’s capital: a modern transport system that moves people around the city, that allows the city to grow in a sustainable and liveable way.
We look forward to continuing to champion this project while those opposite put their head in the sand and hope that nothing ever changes, that nothing in this city ever changes. God forbid that something might change in this city, that something might show the continuing building of the nation’s capital. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! I want to hear Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, does the government have an exit strategy for light rail?
MS GALLAGHER: The government continues to focus on the implementation of a commitment we took to the people of the ACT at the 2012 election—that is, to get this project to the final PPP-ready stage. That is what we said we would do and that is what we are doing. That is what we are doing, and when you read the business case you will see the strong arguments for this project.
We look forward to delivering on the commitment we made to the people of the ACT and, as I said, continuing to grow and develop this nation’s capital into the great city that it can become. We acknowledge that it already is a great city, but our best years, as I have said a number of times, are before us.
We have an optimistic approach to the growth of this city. We look at evidence, we look at reason, we look at opportunities and we look at the continued development of major and important parts of this city. You opposite continue to live in the past. Those days are over. The community will be well served in the future by a very modern
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