2016-06-06
“The Greens welcome this first budget of the 9th Assembly. It reflects the partnership between Labor and the Greens, and delivers measures that will make Canberra a more sustainable city, that will prepare us for the challenges of the future, and which provide protection and support for our most vulnerable residents,” said ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury.
“For the Greens, this budget is about starting to deliver the commitments we made during the 2016 election, and which are reflected in the Parliamentary Agreement.
Key initiatives delivered in the Budget include:
- Action on climate change, including $1.9 million for delivering the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and $550,000 for community grants to undertake zero net emissions projects;
- improvements to our transport system, including Light Rail stage 2, new Rapid Bus Routes, and active travel investment;
- Development of the Drug and Alcohol Court, to assist people to truly address their addictive behaviours, and divert people from custody;
- Establishment of the Office for Mental Health, to improve service delivery and coordination, and ensure the ACT is at the forefront of innovation in care and support;
- Support for community legal centres, including Street Law and the Environmental Defenders Office.
- Continued investment in public housing renewal, providing more comfortable and cost-effective housing for tenants.
“The Greens welcome the return to modest budget surpluses, money that can be used to deliver vital services and infrastructure for our community. Budget surpluses are not an end in themselves – just as there are times to operate in deficit, there are also times to save and invest.”
“The Greens have listened carefully to the community and have a clear vision of what the future looks like. We aren’t afraid of innovation and we aren’t afraid of change. We believe this Budget delivers services that are needed today, and lays foundations for meeting the challenges of the future.