Page 4091 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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We are doing the only thing that we could possibly do in this situation. It is the right thing to do, to make sure that these 1,000 home owners have the opportunity to realise their financial investment, to purchase a home that is not contaminated by asbestos, and to move on. The previous commonwealth government, when deciding about the clean-up program, actually considered buyback and went for clean-up, and we now know that the clean-up program was not effective. So we are doing the only reasonable thing. We cannot leave these 1,000 home owners out to dry because it might have a negative effect on our budget over the next two years. I am very firmly of the opinion that it is something that we have to do, and we are going to press ahead and do it, and hopefully with the support of all 17 members of the Assembly.
The ACT government has a good plan in place. There are a number of responses in place to deal with some of the challenges that the economy is facing over the next year or so. We hope that the commonwealth at some point will stop the cuts. We hope that the commonwealth will give Canberra a break, just as it gives other areas around the country a break when things get tough. We hope they consider us to be just like every other Australian. I must say we have not been overwhelmed by a positive response to that, but we live in hope that at some point the federal government will ease back on their attacks on Canberra—give Canberra families and our community a break from the savageness of the cuts, the speed of the cuts and the unwillingness of the commonwealth to provide any structural support as we go through this transition.
In the absence of that, Canberrans know very well that when Liberal governments get into power they cut, and it is often up to Labor governments to work out a long-term solution and, through that, support the community with fairness and equity.
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra) (4.10): This government is committed to steering Canberra through these tough economic times which are not of our making. We recognise the underlying strength of the ACT economy and the strong prospects for long-term growth despite the harsh measures of the federal Liberal government. Despite the damage done by this “no surprises” but very surprising federal government, the federal Liberals continue to obfuscate about their pre-election commitments. It is hard to tell if they think they know what they are doing. We know they have no idea what they are doing in the Senate and we know that leaves Canberra’s citizens, businesses and the economy in an uncertain position. It seems that every pre-election “no ifs, no buts” statement of plain talking Mr Tony Abbott had a hidden footnote attached to it. So “no cuts” does not mean, as you would expect, no cuts.
They have told us we are stupid if we do not understand “no cuts” came with this hidden footnote pointing to “see terms and conditions”, such as “no cuts” may include a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar efficiency dividend and more job losses in Canberra. “No new taxes” means new Medicare co-payments, higher uni fees or reviving an old tax like the fuel excise levy. The Liberals’ Adelaide footnote apparently means a Japanese submarine dock. I am sure that the opposition are revelling in the possibilities regarding such barefaced effrontery when it comes to crafting their messages for the 2016 election. Tell them what they want to hear before the election then tell them they were not listening properly when you get caught out.
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