Page 2843 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
health, education, transport and community services. We continue to invest in the needs of our growing community. We do so whilst returning the territory budget to balance.
MR COE: Treasurer, why does the ACT continue to have an underlying budget in deep deficit, a fiscal deficit, despite massive increases in rates, taxes and charges?
MR BARR: The territory does not. The territory operates with a balanced budget.
MRS DUNNE: Chief Minister, why is the sustainability of priority services such as health care problematic under your budget?
MR BARR: It is not. We are investing record amounts in health, and ensuring that we are investing in both new infrastructure and in providing new services to communities right across the Australian Capital Territory. We are ensuring that our investments are targeted to meet emerging needs. We are also focusing, with our work in terms of federal-state relations, on ensuring that we have good, ongoing funding partnerships between our level of government and the Australian government. We are ensuring that the future health needs of our community are met, as well as playing our part to ensure that the future health needs of all Australians are met.
The hypocrisy of the Liberal Party, the party that has cut funding from health right across this nation, courtesy of your federal colleagues, is laid bare today. Once again, with respect to the 2014 Abbott-Hockey budget, there has not been the funding that was contained prior to that. It was stripped away by Abbott and Hockey, and it has not been restored by Prime Minister Turnbull and Treasurer Morrison. There is still a reduction in health funding from your federal colleagues.
Visitors
MADAM SPEAKER: Before I call you, Ms Le Couteur, may I acknowledge that in the gallery we have students from the Canberra Institute of Technology, the English language certificate IV, as I understand you are studying. Welcome to your Assembly.
Members: Hear, hear!
Questions without notice
Planning—Curtin shops
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management and relates to the current reconsideration process for the controversial DA for the Curtin shops. Minister, the developer’s spokeswoman was reported in last Wednesday’s Canberra Times as saying that the new plans are considerably different from the axed proposal. How can plans that are considerably different be accepted for reconsideration rather than a new DA?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Le Couteur for the question. The Planning and Development Act 2007 provides any proponent with recourse to apply for the reconsideration of a decision previously made by the independent Planning and Land
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video