Page 4222 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
This government have recognised the importance of a strong infrastructure program to support the confidence of our economy. It is one of the reasons that we have committed to investing a record $2½ billion into our city’s infrastructure over the next four years. As well as supporting economic activity, this investment will drive productivity across the city, upgrade our local centres and make Canberra a better place to live.
We are building a range of infrastructure to meet community needs, like a new school in Coombs and a purpose-built facility for respite care for children with a disability. We are building infrastructure to help keep the community safe, like new emergency services facilities in Charnwood, Aranda and south Tuggeranong. We are building infrastructure to keep the community healthy, like the secure mental health unit; redeveloping Canberra Hospital; and, of course, building the new subacute public hospital at the University of Canberra. We are building infrastructure to keep our city moving, like the new bus station at Erindale and the upgrade of Majura parkway. We are building the infrastructure to support our city’s digital economy. The CBR free wi-fi network will be the largest public wi-fi network in Australia. And the government is investing in the iconic and transformational infrastructure that our city needs to grow to more than half a million people—new courts, a new light rail system, and the first stages of the city to the lake project.
The light rail project is one of the most significant infrastructure projects our city has seen. It will reduce congestion along one of the busiest transport routes—if not the busiest route—in the city. It will be a catalyst for major urban renewal and sustainable development along the entire project corridor, and will support more than 3,500 jobs during the construction phase.
This focus on jobs is one of the most important things that set this side of politics apart from the Liberal Party. We are proud when our policies deliver real outcomes and support jobs at the same time. Those opposite seem to get most excited about policies that cut jobs.
We are proud to work closely with, and to support, Canberra’s private sector. The new courts and the capital metro project will be delivered as public-private partnerships. We have stepped in at this important time to help our construction industry by releasing multiple civil contracts, worth around $150 million, for estate works in the new suburb of Moncrieff. We have put in place a range of incentives, particularly for developers seeking extra time to commence and complete developments.
Policy is about choices. Those of us on this side of the chamber will always choose building the health infrastructure our territory needs to keep delivering world-class health outcomes over cuts. Those of us on this side of the chamber will always choose to build the education infrastructure our territory needs to deliver world-class education outcomes over cuts. Those of us on this side of the chamber will always choose to support our community and the long-term growth of Canberra over cuts. That is the clear difference between this side of politics and those opposite.
Discussion concluded.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video