Page 1438 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 14 May 2014

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Economy—employment

MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (11.08): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) that the Federal Budget handed down last night will have a direct and long lasting impact on the economy of the ACT;

(b) that the Federal Budget will result in a decrease funding of direct services to the ACT community;

(c) the public sector workforce in Canberra is highly skilled and delivers an important and highly valued service to the broader Australian community;

(d) that in other jurisdictions, when significant job losses occur, the Federal Government has provided structural adjustment packages to the affected communities;

(e) the ACT Government has outlined plans for a number of high profile infrastructure projects including Capital Metro, the University of Canberra Public Hospital and City to the Lake;

(f) that these projects will generate investment and jobs growth in the ACT and promote economic activity for local suppliers and small businesses;

(g) the ACT Government remains committed to stimulating and further expanding its support for and investment in our digital economy and local private sector businesses;

(h) that our strong health, education and tertiary sectors remain an important part of not only the ACT economy but are a critical element in our growing role as a regional service hub for south east NSW; and

(i) the strong commitment the ACT Government has to supporting our tourism and sporting facilities and events to continue to build economic activity in these sectors; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to continue to build and transform our city by investing in Canberra and investing in jobs generation and growth diversifying our economy and to promote jobs growth.

As I move this motion today we wake to a nation which is digesting the coalition’s first budget, a budget that will undoubtedly have a significant, direct and lasting impact on the economy of the ACT. While all the details of the budget are still being digested, it is clear that the largest effects will be felt within commonwealth agencies and the bureaucracy, affecting thousands of Canberra public servants and their families. This is also likely to place additional pressure on the ACT economy, possibly slowing down business activity and impacting unemployment and house prices.


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