Page 2219 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2018
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unsustainable recipe for disaster. While Canberra is growing and the economy is strong, we are in an opportune position to determine the kind of future we want for our city. The Greens are convinced that we can grow our city while maintaining the green spaces and trees that make us the bush capital, whilst also delivering housing and access to key services for all Canberrans.
The Greens look at budgets differently. We do not ask what the impact is on ourselves personally. We ask what the impact will be on sustainability; what sort of place we are leaving for future generations; and for fairness for the vulnerable people in the ACT.
I have spoken already about the critical importance of taking action on climate change and the many ways the ACT is already doing this. But I want to especially emphasise, in the context of this budget, the importance of ensuring that climate change initiatives do not impact negatively and disproportionately on the most vulnerable in our community.
The Greens are determined to take action on climate change; we are also determined to protect the most vulnerable in our community. These two policy imperatives go hand in hand; one should not, and need not, come at the expense of the other. Of course, if we do not act on climate change we will all suffer the repercussions: environmental, social and economic. It is the most vulnerable people in our community who will be hit the hardest.
In this context, I want to mention one particular climate initiative I am especially pleased to see funded this year. This budget makes a much-needed investment of $5.7 million to extend the successful energy efficiency improvement scheme into ACT public housing. Over three years, this program will support significant energy efficiency upgrades, including to space heating in 2,200 public housing dwellings, helping reduce climate emissions as well as heating and cooling bills for some of Canberra’s most vulnerable residents, saving on average about $500 on their energy bills. I am very pleased to have worked with Minister Berry to deliver this proposal.
The Greens have also pushed for more sustainable housing to make our city more compact. Our current housing rules are producing housing that is unaffordable and environmentally unsustainable, so I am pleased to see $775,000 for the housing choices review of planning rules and towards demonstration housing precincts. The precincts are a result of a motion by Ms Le Couteur last year, and will showcase affordable, high quality and environmentally sustainable housing.
Transport is also key to the Greens’ agenda for a more sustainable city. We therefore welcome over $21 million in additional expenditure in active travel upgrades, including in Woden, Tuggeranong and Belconnen town centres as well as investment in making suburbs more age friendly. This is substantial progress on the additional $30 million active travel commitment in the agreement.
Canberra’s urban trees are critical to ameliorating urban temperatures in summer and reducing the heat island effect. This budget includes some funding for more trees but we would like to see more serious investment in urban trees to ensure we continue to
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