Page 2520 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 13 August 2014
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The ACT will finalise the strategic cycle network plan that will ensure the territory has a highly connected network of cycle infrastructure so all Canberrans have the option of leaving a car at home and helping both the environment and increasing their own health and wellbeing.
The government has recently released the low emissions vehicle strategy discussion paper. The principal aim of this paper is to develop a policy which will reduce transport-generated emissions. This work will complement the freight strategy discussion which I launched in July. This will guide how freight moves into, around and out of Canberra.
These actions are all clear priorities of the government’s transport for Canberra action plan. This plan strives to reduce traffic congestion, provide the community with more transport options, reduce the cost of building and maintaining transport infrastructure, and improve outcomes.
As already highlighted, we will remain committed to delivering transparent decisions and active consultation with the community throughout the plans and process I have made mention of. Through the planning and development forum, the directorate continues to actively engage with community to ensure that planning decisions are made which take the community’s view into account and continue to ensure that people who live in our city are able to contribute and have a say on the city of our future.
To comment on Mr Coe’s earlier assertions, I believe in a strong, independent and robust planning system. I look forward to working with all stakeholders in a consultative manner over the forward years.
To conclude, this budget is a great outcome for planning in the ACT. It delivers on the government’s commitment to maintain the ACT as a great place in which to invest and work. It helps the ongoing prosperity of the territory by investing in the areas which will lead to economic benefit in the future.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (6.12): This budget builds towards the government’s 90 per cent renewal energy target. This target is increasing costs for Canberra’s families while having a negligible effect on the ACT environment. Despite the Chief Minister’s earlier remarks, the Canberra Liberals do and always have supported environmental initiatives. I will take a few moments to remind members of that today. The Canberra Liberals introduced many initiatives first into this Assembly. I am sure some of you will recall that a Liberal government introduced the ACT’s first minister for the environment in the early 1990s. It was then also a local Liberal government in 1997 that introduced the first greenhouse reduction targets for any jurisdiction in Australia.
We support environmental initiatives, but, at the same time, we also consider the cost impact on families. We must always keep in mind in this place that the decisions we make, whether based on ideological grounds or scientific research or both, have a huge impact on the everyday lives of Canberrans. It is irresponsible for us to support any initiative at any cost, no matter the portfolio. We will not support any initiative blindfolded without an understanding of the costs or ramifications.
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