Page 1754 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 May 2010

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have a clearer framework around purchasing so they can forward plan over a much longer period.

MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Bresnan?

MS BRESNAN: Minister, can you detail when information about the new merged model of service delivery and time line of implementation for tendering will become available to the sector?

MS BURCH: I can take on notice the time line. The work is in the department; they are finalising the way forward on this. I am happy to come back with some details. But, in recognition that the community sector is indeed having those pressures and that that workforce is hard enough to keep and retain and we do not want the valuable workforce within the sector getting skittish and leaving and going elsewhere, I have a personal view that it needs to be done as quickly as we can. But I will get an update on the time line to you.

Budget—community reaction

MS PORTER: My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, what has been the community reaction to the release of the 2010-2011 ACT budget?

Mr Hanson: This should be good.

MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mary Porter for the question and I hope Mr Hanson will sit back and enjoy it. The budget I presented yesterday is about the growth of the city. It makes new investments in vital community services and infrastructure and it also progresses our budget plan and brings our target year to return to surplus forward by two years. In this tight fiscal environment the government has had to weigh up our priorities, the community’s needs and our commitments to the people of Canberra. As I said yesterday, while it might not be everything to everybody, this budget gets that balance right.

The budget has been received well by many in the community. Our new investments are in capital works and infrastructure, health and education, disability services and child protection, municipal services and transport, protecting our environment, tackling climate change and creating an environment that supports local business, jobs and the economy.

Mr Hanson interjecting—

MS GALLAGHER: Mr Hanson, I think, was referred to by Mark Parton yesterday as a bit of a wind-up doll—and, gee, we enjoyed that.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Treasurer.

MS GALLAGHER: We enjoyed that because we do not see that side of you, Jeremy. No, we do not see it all. On an otherwise quite stressful day, I did enjoy it.

MR SPEAKER: Treasurer!


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