Page 3729 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 29 October 2014
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and their vocabulary in this respect is a limited “no”. They oppose light rail, but they have no alternative. Do they celebrate Canberra’s achievements? No. Will they work with the government to address the challenges we face? No, they will not. We want to build Canberra up; they want to tear Canberra down. They have no alternative plan and no vision for our future. They want to see Canberra fail so they can say that they were right. I think it is sad, Madam Assistant Speaker, that that is the place and that is the position that they want to be in. In this place we should strive to make Canberra better, but the opposition, and Mr Coe and Mr Hanson, are determined to stir up fear, to pit neighbour against neighbour for their own benefit and political gain.
When the opposition attack capital metro they ignore the wider benefits it will deliver for areas like public housing. Canberra’s light rail system will, as in other cities, support a long-term increase in the value of property along its route, which will allow us to redevelop the public housing stock on Northbourne Avenue. It will allow us to regenerate the public housing stock across Canberra, providing renewal for tenants and families across our city. It will not just provide homes; it will provide better homes.
While Mr Coe made offensive, crass and, frankly, disgusting comments to me and Mr Gentleman when I discussed light rail last week, he and his colleagues just do not seem to understand that this project is for all Canberrans. But that is all they have got—personal attacks and scaring people. When Katy Gallagher asked the Canberra Liberals to outline their policy, they did not, because they cannot.
Stage 1 of capital metro will lay the foundation for a city-wide integrated network, with light rail as its spine, supported by a feeder bus network and good cycling and pedestrian access. But if we listen to the opposition, they would have everyone believe we live in the worst city. But the truth is that Canberra is one of the best and most livable cities, not just according to us but according to the OECD, and is Australia’s most livable city according to the Property Council of Australia.
We have an ambitious vision for the future of Canberra, and all of our local communities, that seeks to make our city even more sustainable—a city that is inclusive, that supports the vulnerable, that enables every person to reach their potential; a city that fosters economic growth, jobs and innovations. Investments in infrastructure like capital metro give our community confidence and certainty for the future and are required for us to maintain our position as a city of innovation, urban amenity and one of the world’s most livable cities. I thank Dr Bourke for bringing the motion to the Assembly and I commend the motion.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Corrective Services, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Minister for Sport and Recreation) (11.13): I would like to thank Dr Bourke for bringing this motion on today because I think he has raised some very important issues and I think he made a very passionate case for what is happening here, which is the need to think about the future of this city as our population grows to the forecast numbers of around 600,000 over coming decades.
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