Page 1405 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 3 May 2016
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such, the territory has had to make its own way. The federal Liberals made it very clear that we would be on our own. The Canberra Liberals stood should to shoulder with their federal colleagues
Meanwhile, on this side of the chamber, we accepted the challenge to boost growth and support our economy, and we are doing so to ensure that Canberra continues to grow and prosper and that we put people first, we put jobs first and we put this city first.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Treasurer, what has been the direct impact on jobs in the territory as a result of the recent commonwealth budget and how has the ACT government responded?
MR BARR: The impact on jobs in the territory was significant. In the 2014-15 financial year more than 3½ thousand jobs were shed from the Australian public service here in Canberra. At the time of the 2014-15 budget the unemployment rate in Canberra was 3.9 per cent. After all of those cuts it rose to 5.1 per cent. As I have noted, our economy is now on the rebound and the unemployment rate has fallen back to 4.3 per cent, which is the lowest rate in the country.
My government’s approach of jobs first, encouraging economic growth and supporting jobs growth in the territory is working, and it will always be this government’s highest priority. That is why we responded to the commonwealth’s cuts to jobs by continuing our significant infrastructure program, by helping local businesses to grow, to diversify and to create jobs through our comprehensive business development strategy and particularly supporting our higher education sector which is a key driver of employment and economic activity in the territory, as the shadow treasurer heard in spades last night at the farewell event for Steven Parker, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Canberra, who has left that institution, with the support of the territory government, in a very strong position and poised for significant growth in the future. This is a sector of our economy that employs nearly 17,000 Canberrans and contributes $2.7 billion annually to our economy. Due to the enabling work of this government in recent times, the University of Canberra will go from strength to strength.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Treasurer, what has been the direct impact on health funding in the territory as a result of recent commonwealth budgets? How again has the ACT government responded?
MR BARR: The impact of health funding cuts in recent Liberal budgets is one of the clearer signs of the contempt in which that party holds the public health system. In 2014 the commonwealth budget cut $57 billion from health systems around the country. It was there in black and white as a savings measure that was trumpeted in the 2014 budget. The $57 billion that was cut from health was part of the $80 billion in cuts to schools and hospitals that the former prime minister and former treasurer presided over in that disastrous 2014 budget.
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