Page 2841 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The 2010-11 budget provided for the establishment of 11 further positions in the ACT Ambulance Service. In a further investment in our emergency services, Mr Speaker, the 2010-11 budget provided over $4.0 million over four years to ACT Policing for the introduction of the Recognition and Analysis of Plates Identified system.
Excellent Education, Quality Teaching and Skills Development
Mr Speaker, we are providing for the education needs of our residents through a number of capital works programs. Three new schools are currently under construction. These are:
Gungahlin College which is due to open at the start of the 2011 school year;
Kambah P-10 School where Stage 1, being Pre-school to Year 8, is to open at the start of the 2011 school year and Stage 2, the remaining Year 9 to Year 10 facilities to open in mid 2011; and
Harrison Secondary School which is scheduled to open at the start of the 2012 school year.
In addition, upgrades of both Red Hill and Torrens Primary Schools are scheduled for 2010-11, and additional classrooms at Ngunnawal Primary School will be provided. Funding has also been allocated in the 2010-11 Budget to prepare the design documentation for Bonner Primary School, Franklin Early Childhood School and Molonglo Primary School.
Mr Speaker, in 2009 the ACT implemented 15 hours of preschool education in five early childhood schools, including at the new Early Childhood Schools at Narrabundah, Isabella Plains, Lyons and Southern Cross. In 2010, an additional eight schools are offering 15 hours of preschool education. The Hall Preschool also commenced the implementation of 15 hours of preschool education in 2010.
The Government has put in place several new initiatives to support students in school including the Australian School Based Apprenticeships initiative with $350,000 provided in 2009-10 to employ 100 young Canberrans. I am pleased to advise the Assembly that in 2010 we have an overwhelming success rate, with 56 ACT public schools hosting all 100 apprentices.
Strong and Dynamic Economy
Mr Speaker, the ACT Government is committed to ensuring that the ACT has a strong and dynamic economy. Importantly, the Territory developed a seven year plan to return to surplus. The plan was updated in the
2010-11 Budget and the return to surplus target date has been advanced by two years to 2013-14.
The ACT economy has continued growing despite the global economic downturn. The fiscal stimulus measures of the Commonwealth Government and local initiatives by the ACT Government helped sustain economic growth and minimise job losses in the Territory during the global economic downturn.
The trend unemployment rate for the ACT in May 2010 declined to 3.3 percent - the second lowest of all Australian jurisdictions. The adult average weekly ordinary time earnings in the ACT in the February 2010 quarter was $1,443 – which is more than 16 percent higher than the national average. In
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video