Page 2223 - Week 06 - Thursday, 6 June 2019
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MADAM SPEAKER: There is no point of order, Ms Lawder. Mr Barr made reference to that at the beginning of his answer.
MR BARR: We are making deeper stamp duty cuts than almost every government in this nation. Only South Australia, which, under the former Labor government, phased out commercial stamp duty altogether over a period of time, has done more than this government on the commercial stamp duty side. Small and medium-sized businesses that want to invest in Canberra do not have a $70,000 stamp duty hit when they make that investment to buy commercial property in Canberra. That is a big difference. And they do not payroll tax here either. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: Before I give Ms Cody the call, I remind members that there are rules on interjections. Can you please remain silent?
Budget—emergency services
MS CODY: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, how are you supporting the ACT Ambulance Service?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Cody for her interest in a safer Canberra. Keeping Canberrans safe is one of this government’s highest priorities, and that is why the government is making ongoing investments in our emergency services. The 2019-20 budget that the Chief Minister handed down just the other day provides funding for our emergency services, including ACTAS and ACT Fire & Rescue.
The investment in ACTAS builds on the funding in the 2018-19 midyear budget review in which the government announced it would recruit two additional ambulance crews to help ensure the ACT’s emergency response times remain the best in the country. The ACTAS fleet will also be expanded, with five new ambulances fitted with state-of- the-art electronic stretchers, power loaders and defibrillators. I was recently contacted by a constituent who was attended to by two paramedics and was the beneficiary of these new state-of-the-art stretchers. My constituent was grateful for the ease and care with which she was transferred to hospital and she was also extremely appreciative of the professional, efficient and compassionate treatment which she received from the attending crew.
I add my own gratitude to that of my constituent and thank the women and men of ACTAS for the important work they do in our community.
MS CODY: Minister, is there additional support for ACT Fire & Rescue in the budget?
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes, there is additional support. The government is delivering more firefighters, emergency services vehicles and stations to keep Canberra safe as our city grows. The 2019-20 budget will help to recruit 36 more firefighters through two new recruit colleges. These firefighters will replace retiring staff and continue strengthening our firefighting workforce. The government will also purchase a new aerial firefighting appliance that will be able to navigate urban areas more effectively and provide a better response at multistorey building fires.
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