Page 1493 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 14 May 2014
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has placed the ACT economy in a very good position to weather the coalition’s onslaught that is its first budget. Rather than talking down the ACT economy, I and my colleagues have cited many examples of how the ACT economy has been and is being strengthened through sound investment, through diversification and through our strong infrastructure program both now and into the future.
However, we heard from my colleagues about the many short-sighted and frankly mystifying decisions announced by Mr Hockey last night. Small-minded and mean is the way they are being described, and that is certainly the way I would describe them. But they are not only small-minded and mean. It seems a deliberate attempt to damage Canberra and hit the most vulnerable in our community, while not offering any assistance to the territory to help withstand the impact. Chris Faulks of the Canberra Business Council said today in her media release:
Our concern is that in this Budget the Federal Government doesn’t seem to have recognised and responded to the disproportionate impact these cutbacks will have in Canberra.
She also decries the decision not to fund the convention centre to investment-ready stage, stating:
Importantly in the context of public service job cuts, the Australia Forum will drive the business tourism industry and reduce our reliance on the public sector. Canberra Business Council is disappointed that the Federal Government has failed to listen to the local business community and support the Australia Forum. However, we won’t be giving up and will be going back to the Federal Government for funding in the future—and when we do we will be reminding Treasurer Hockey of his commitment in tonight’s Budget speech to building more national infrastructure in partnership with states and the private sector once the Budget is repaired. The Australia Forum has to be a leading example of a project that enjoys support from the business community and state/ territory government.
Members have heard more than adequate proof of the nonsense of this coalition’s decisions. It is not good enough for the Canberra Liberals to run away from the facts. It is not good enough to try and divert attention from your federal colleagues’ appalling decisions by Mr Smyth moving his hamfisted amendment. I think he wanted us to think that by doing this everything was going to be okay. Well, everything is not okay, and that amendment, of course, is not supported by me or by my colleagues.
Talk about avoiding any responsibility! It is very disappointing that the Liberals in this place cannot bring themselves to stand up for Canberra and condemn these decisions, these cuts. It is disappointing that they cannot follow the example of their colleagues in other states who have stood up for their states this morning. However, this Labor government is a sound government. It has placed, and it continues to place, the ACT economy on a sound footing. This will assist in helping it withstand the shock of the coalition’s budget.
We will continue to work with the business sector and the wider Canberra community because this Labor government is committed to Canberra. We are committed, and will
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