Page 2592 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
of our health system. When you look at the long-term transport future, there are many technological solutions coming on line, such as autonomous vehicles. Last week, the chief scientist of Telstra talked about all vehicles being driverless by 2030. There are technological changes ahead, but Mr Rattenbury wants to lock in an old, outdated, unsuitable transport system for Canberra. We are truly looking to the future in transport, in health and in education.
Mr Barr—and quite rightly, as the Treasurer—is concerned about the fiscal aspects. He missed a quote that I made when I started my speech. We were told by this government that the money was there. This is back when the government wanted to rebuild the Canberra Hospital. This is back when Ms Gallagher wanted to rebuild the Canberra Hospital and said it needed to be done, so much so that she put $41 million into the budget. This was not just an election promise. This went a step beyond it. This is money put in the budget with a promise to do this before the last election, before the light rail came along. It is money that was then ripped out of the budget. Mrs Jones asked a question, and I will say it again: how will this $800 million project be funded? It is a fair question to ask, I would say. Ms Gallagher responded:
I think the budget has shown the preparedness of this government to make provision for large infrastructure projects. We have made provision, and we have also made space within the budget to fund those projects.
Mr Barr is saying that this is some sort of black hole or is asking: where can the money come from? Ms Gallagher made it very clear that the money had been put aside for this project in the budget. Ms Gallagher said that—it is in the Hansard—just before she left this place. She said the money was in the budget, that provision had been made. There are two scenarios: that money is still there—the provision has been made and it is still there—or, as I said before, it has been moved somewhere. It just so happens that the amount that has been put in the budget for light rail—$375 million—is exactly the same amount that was costed by ACT Health for stage 1 of a rebuild and expansion of the Canberra Hospital.
Ms Lawder: What a coincidence.
MR HANSON: What a bizarre coincidence indeed, Ms Lawder. Two scenarios are at play: we either take the money back from light rail or the provision is still there in the budget, unless Ms Gallagher was misleading us. I am sure she was not, because she used to be passionate about health. I remember those days. She and I had many barneys over the years—there is no doubt about it—but what I would say is that she was a believer. As Paul Keating would say, she was a true believer—in health and in education. When she was Chief Minister she would not have given education to the Greens; that is for sure. She was a true believer in Labor values, but she has gone now. She has gone, and with her absence goes the plan to rebuild the Canberra Hospital. What we have now are Mr Barr’s rates changes and Mr Rattenbury’s tram.
As much as we hear that we have got nothing positive to say—and this is what Mr Rattenbury said—let me be very clear that we have an enormous number of positive policies. Mr Coe’s transport plan is so good that Ms Fitzharris is photocopying it and releasing elements of it. Our education plan—for Mr Rattenbury’s edification—is new money. We are prepared to put money towards
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video