Page 2582 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 10 August 2016

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MS FITZHARRIS: I move:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes:

(a) calculations show the compensation of terminating the light rail contract is estimated to be between $220-$280 million;

(b) the Territory would forgo $67 million in asset recycling initiative funding to the Commonwealth if light rail is not delivered;

(c) cancelling light rail will create a minimum $300 million deterioration in the forward estimates;

(d) industry has condemned tearing up the contract, which damages not only the ACT’s, but Australia’s reputation as a place to invest;

(e) Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, the Australian Industry Group and the Business Council of Australia have all called on the Canberra Liberals to change their position to avoid sovereign risk;

(f) the Federal Liberals have described the Canberra Liberals’ position as economic lunacy;

(g) the Canberra Liberals’ plan to tear up the light rail contract means there will be less money available for hospitals, schools and local services over the forward estimates, unlike the financing of light rail which provides for the cost to be shared across generations that use it;

(h) the 2016-17 ACT Budget includes a record investment in schools and hospitals; and

(i) EY estimates that 3500 direct and indirect jobs will be supported during the construction phase of Canberra Light Rail Stage 1, and these jobs are under threat if the Canberra Liberals tear up the contract; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to:

(a) reject calls to tear up contracts;

(b) continue to deliver an integrated transport network; and

(c) continue to ensure Canberrans have access to high quality education, health care and local services.”.

MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (10.33): I do welcome this opportunity this morning to talk about some of the choices that Canberrans face at the ACT election because I do not agree with the approach that Mr Hanson has outlined this morning in seeking to cancel a very significant contract for the ACT. The Canberra Liberal Party have made it very clear that they will not build light rail, whereas the Greens believe that this is an important and beneficial project for Canberra and is part of government doing a whole range of things.

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