Page 2108 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 5 June 2019
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MRS KIKKERT: Minister, what other measures have you taken to curb illegal and violent behaviours in this particular complex?
MS BERRY: Illegal and violent behaviours are generally criminal matters and are
usually managed by the police. However, the police and Housing ACT work closely together to ensure that tenants meet—they are obliged to meet—their obligations as tenants of Housing ACT. Primarily, criminal behaviour is not something that Housing ACT is responsible for; it is a Policing matter because it is a criminal matter. But Housing ACT has an MOU with Policing and we work closely together to resolve those issues where we can.
Budget—fiscal strategy
MS ORR: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, how is the ACT government building for Canberra’s future through the 2019-20 ACT budget?
MR BARR: I thank Ms Orr for the question. There are a number of very important investments contained in this year’s budget, particularly investments in people: early intervention and services to tackle disadvantage; a significant boost for services for Canberrans with disability, by transition to the full scheme NDIS; major funding increases in the Justice and Community Safety portfolio, including additional resources for ACT Policing; and a new approach to reducing family and domestic violence.
On the infrastructure side, there is clearly a very big program of health and healthcare investment; investment in schools; transport infrastructure investment; and investment at a suburban level, with a range of upgrades for local shops, new playgrounds, road and intersection upgrades, and better community centres right across the city. We also have a very significant commitment to continue growing and renewing public housing. This takes up a very significant proportion of the budget’s new capital spend.
MS ORR: Chief Minister, what is the outlook for Canberra’s local economy, according to the 2019-20 ACT budget?
MR BARR: The outlook is very positive. It builds on the last three years, when we have seen combined economic growth of 12 per cent, supporting the creation of over 3,200 new businesses in Canberra and more than 16,000 jobs. Our economy, as measured by the gross state product, has now reached $40 billion. It is larger than Tasmania’s—as a point of interest. It has been boosted by significant increases in service exports, particularly in higher education and tourism.
The budget contains a continued investment in economic development and industry diversification. A pleasing figure to see is that there are now 142,000 Canberrans employed in the private sector. They are working in a growing range of industries, including research and innovation, defence, space, cybersecurity, construction, tourism and hospitality, social services and retail. That is 62 per cent of the workforce now.
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