Page 3254 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 21 August 2019
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review of all previous planning documentation, and utilise this existing information. So it should not be seen by anybody that the development of a master plan now is an indication that there has not previously been planning. As I said the planning for the SPIRE project is well underway. Everybody in this place knows that there was a change in the proposed location of SPIRE. That was part of this planning work. That planning is well underway, and I look forward to making some further announcements about that in due course.
Government—election commitments
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, what does the passage of the 2019-20 budget mean for the government’s election commitments to the Canberra community?
MR BARR: I thank Mr Pettersson for the question. We went to the last election with around 200 commitments across nearly every aspect of service delivery and infrastructure for the city. I am pleased to say that, with the passage of the budget yesterday, we have now funded or started work on nearly 200 initiatives. This includes delivering new walk-in centres, recruiting more school psychologists, planting new trees, building a second Common Ground and undertaking a range of transport infrastructure improvements.
The passing of the budget delivers a range of further commitments that we undertook at the 2016 election. Light rail is up and running, the green bin rollout has taken place across the territory, education is more equitable, walk-in centres have been opened in Gungahlin, and work is underway on the new facility in Weston Creek.
We have made a series of commitments during this parliamentary term and we work progressively on their delivery.
MR PETTERSSON: How has the government approached funding its election commitments through successive budgets since 2016?
MR BARR: Through a determined, steady and responsible delivery of those commitments. We have prioritised the delivery of key commitments over the past three years. We have been able to significantly expand services and facilities available to Canberrans. We are very alert to the importance of delivering what we said we would deliver. That remains our focus over the balance of this parliamentary term.
MS CODY: Chief Minister, what are the government’s next priorities for investment, with election commitments now funded and underway?
MR BARR: We know that our city’s population will continue to grow rapidly and we need to look ahead to our city’s needs in the next decade and beyond. Shortly we will be releasing a forward infrastructure plan for the territory that will take a detailed look at how Canberra is growing and changing and how future infrastructure investments can ensure that we remain the world’s most livable city.
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