Page 2942 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 August 2008
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a significant initiative to prepare Canberra for the future and, indeed, which is a direct response of this government’s good economic management and the fact that we have created the best balance sheet of any government in Australia as a result of tough decisions that we have taken to ensure that we have the best balance sheet and sustainable budget, with sustainable surpluses into the future.
We have accumulated $750 million in cash and anticipated surpluses in excess of $200 million over the budget cycle. We have, through the stringency of our economic management, been able to fund, through cash, a billion dollar infrastructure fund. There is provided within the infrastructure fund a capacity of $83 million—$83 million within the transport component of the infrastructure fund—and it is a great credit to the economic management of the territory that we are able to forecast and deliver a billion dollar infrastructure fund for the future from accumulated surpluses, cash accumulated from surpluses and anticipated surpluses in the order of a quarter of a million dollars over the next four years.
Contrast that of course with the $60 million to $80 million annual capital spend of the Liberal Party in government when they delivered accumulated deficits over the terms of the previous Liberal government—just compare the difference—in excess of $800 million against a one billion dollar cash fund.
Mr Smyth: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, resume your seat.
MR STANHOPE: I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker.
Mr Smyth: The question was about what is in the budget and about documents tabled yesterday which show only $30 million. I did not ask about our policy.
MR SPEAKER: The Treasurer.
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. One does understand the shadow Treasurer’s embarrassment. It is an embarrassment that rises to the top whenever one mentions the fact that their annual capital spend in government varied between $60 million and $80 million. They accumulated deficits of over $800 million.
Mr Smyth: Again, relevance, Mr Speaker.
Mrs Dunne: Relevance, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Come back to the subject matter of the question.
MR STANHOPE: Of course the $800 million accumulated deficits contrast very starkly with the one billion dollar infrastructure fund.
Mrs Dunne: Relevance, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Come back to the subject matter of the question.
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