Page 2716 - Week 08 - Thursday, 24 August 2006
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I note that the minister never said in estimates what his opinion was of the return. Instead, he threw up the term “business welfare”. But when you talk about business welfare and ask him to explain it, he is at a loss. I have heard from people in the industry that whenever he has been asked this question in public he has been at a loss to describe the welfare aspect of it. Why is it welfare?
Mr Barr: One million bucks in product and industry development.
MR SMYTH: If the minister wants to rebut that, perhaps he will stand up and say a few words about it as well.
Mr Barr: I am looking forward to it.
MR SMYTH: He says that he is looking forward to it. It will be interesting to see whether we get an answer because we did not get an answer in the estimates committee process; we did not get an answer at all. Successive governments have worked very hard to get tourism up and running and I think it is very sad that in a single budget the government is going to take $4.5 million over two years out of tourism. I think that is symptomatic of this government and I think that it describes this budget to a tee.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for the Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Housing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (9.23): This is the first budget for the new Department of Territory and Municipal Services, which has brought together a broad range of functions, including sport and recreation, environment, sustainability, tourism and public transport. The government remains strongly committed to implementing its sustainability policy, People Place Prosperity. The work to promote and integrate sustainability principles into the business of government will continue, as will the development of a climate change strategy and a related energy policy.
We will continue to manage and protect our wildlife. The sum of $100,000 has been allocated to the recovery programs for the brush-tailed rock wallaby and the northern corroboree frog. That was not recognised by the leader of the Greens party in this place, the leader of one and all. She is the leader, deputy leader and chief whip of the Greens. At the Tidbinbilla nature reserve, two artificial outdoor breeding pools and a public display will be built for the corroboree frog, adding to what we are already doing there, and the enclosures for the brush-tailed rock wallabies are to be upgraded. An additional $137,000 will be spent over the next four years to support these programs. Clearly, that is news to Dr Foskey. In addition, to provide greater protection for the territory’s grassy woodlands endangered wildlife, $350,000 has been provided to build a predator-free enclosure at Mulligans Flat nature reserve. We have spoken about that before.
The government has provided a major boost to the current road maintenance program with the injection of $20 million over the next four years to maintain a safe and efficient road network, something not picked up by Mr Pratt. We will be injecting a further $1.35 million in 2006-07 into road safety improvements on the Monaro Highway, another bit of news for Mr Pratt.
Mr Seselja: How many potholes?
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