Page 4095 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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The combination of the impacts of these federal cuts with the blow of dealing with Mr Fluffy also puts significant stress on the ACT. Canberra is ideally placed to take advantage of the intellectual capital that exists in the town in areas such as medical research, renewable energy and information technology to provide the basis for cutting edge start-up industries with enormous export potential.
All of these areas have the real potential for growth into the future. If we want to be the knowledge capital, ideally that is done with continued federal government support for the research sector, including things like the cooperative research centres, many of whom are facing serious declines in their future funding, if not complete abolition. Canberra has the potential to lead and support economic and business development in areas such as health, sport, higher education, tourism and the digital economy.
As I spoke about yesterday, the Greens have long-term ideas for a positive transition of business to a clean, green economy in the ACT. It is vital that ACT government decision-making is consistent with that vision through fostering and showcasing sustainable and innovative ACT industries in the national capital. The government’s business development strategy includes many avenues for this support. We are pleased that the government strategy itself has diversified over the years to enable the government to support small to medium enterprises, as well as smaller social enterprises, in many ways.
The Greens have actively worked with the government to improve the ACT’s planning and regulatory environment for the ACT’s small to medium enterprises. For example, in relation to sporting and cultural events and creative industries, as TAMS minister I am working to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens in these sectors. The ACT has many unique business opportunities. Working together with business, government and the community sector can best achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, significant innovation and more efficiency.
The Greens agree with the ACT government’s taxation reform strategy, particularly increasing rates while decreasing stamp duty and other duties. We also support a price on carbon that helps to drive investment in the energy technologies of the future. This, of course, is out of fashion at the moment, but it was pleasing to see the impact that it had on clean energy investment over the short period that the carbon price was in place.
In the building and construction sector, we can work with industry to deliver high quality design and construction. In relation to transport, light rail will support business in the city and along the transport corridor. We need to continue to roll out energy efficient housing that addresses the challenges of urban infill and housing affordability.
As the minister responsible for TAMS, as I mentioned yesterday, I am supporting some of those things that help make areas more business friendly, with local shopping centre upgrades, 40-kilometre zones around town centres and the Bunda Street shareway. I noted Mr Wall’s comment after I talked about those things yesterday. I certainly do not consider them to be the silver bullet or the one magic thing that is
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