Page 418 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 16 February 2016
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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question. Order! I would like to hear Ms Burch’s question.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, when I make a ruling it is extremely disorderly for you just to continue interjecting. Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Could the Treasurer inform the Assembly what further actions the territory government will take to support the ACT economy.
MADAM SPEAKER: So long as the Treasurer does not announce new policy, the question would be in order.
MR BARR: We will continue to support the territory economy and jobs as this is a very high priority of my government. We are creating the right business environment by reducing red tape and by expanding the role of local small and medium-sized enterprises in government procurement. We are accelerating innovation through work with our higher education and research partners to make Canberra the research capital of Australia. We are supporting business investment through our strong program of national and international engagement. We are making the territory’s tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient. We are abolishing stamp duty and insurance duty, and further increasing our payroll tax threshold, which is already the most small business friendly in Australia. In addition, the territory government has a four-year $2.8 billion infrastructure program that is contributing to growth and development right across Canberra.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: What risks are there to the continued growth of the ACT economy?
MR BARR: The greatest risk to Canberra comes from the commonwealth Liberal government. As we know, that risk now has a new form, the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, who wants to move research agencies out of Canberra. This is in spite of protests by those agencies themselves and the key stakeholders for those agencies who understand the benefit of being in Canberra amongst world-class research institutions and the infrastructure that this city has.
We have heard about recent cuts to our national institutions and their needing to find further significant savings that can only now be found through job cuts or reductions in the services that they provide.
We also face risks associated with failing to honour validly entered infrastructure contracts. Those opposite are firmly responsible for that particular risk. This exposes the territory to significant financial and reputational risks that will make doing business in Canberra more risky and more expensive in the future.
Opposition members interjecting—
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