The ACT Greens response to today’s mid year budget review is to look to the long term and make sure that any restructuring helps position the ACT economy for the future.
“We recognise that the global economic crisis and its impacts across Australia has put the ACT in a challenging situation, where some years of deficit are inevitable” Mr Rattenbury said today.
“Like other economies, the ACT will need to make some adjustments. And that’s when the timing of initiatives in the Greens-ALP Agreement, and the way we handle priorities, become the issue.”
“Some of the best minor capital works we can get started on, in the February stimulus package, are green projects that quickly create green jobs and industry. Retrofitting energy inefficient homes is one clear example of the right kind of project.”
“We shouldn’t forget how this financial crisis came about: a focus on short-term profit by the richest parts of the global community. Everyone now recognises that it is time for new thinking.
“That’s why the Greens-ALP Agreement is a commitment to building a green economy for the future and to strengthening the community sector.”
“We support taking a calm and sensible approach to the challenge of the next few budgets, but the direction we need to move in is still clear.”
“Finally, we are pleased to see that this new minority government is consulting the ACT community on the 2009/10 budget. The Greens urge people to get involved in that process. And, given the ACT Government’s shrinking income, to think about revenue as well as expenditure” Mr Rattenbury said.
ACT Greens Housing Spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan MLA has called for a one stop shop approach for people at risk of homelessness and more public and community housing.
“The $1.2 billion in the Federal Government’s homelessness package announced this week is very welcome, but it is focussed too much at the crisis end,” Ms Bresnan said today.
“We need a one stop shop, integrating mental health, drug and alcohol, employment, legal and other services. Basically, those necessary services that can help people at risk of homelessness to remain in their homes.
“Mental illness is a factor in as much as 75% of homelessness cases in Australia, but it’s not clear that there is an appropriate recognition of that in this package.
“The other ingredient for longer term housing solutions, is an increase our stock of social, including public, housing.
“But, while some of the Commonwealth money is to increase the supply social housing, we don’t know if any of that will result in additional funding for the ACT.
“The ALP Greens agreement includes a goal of 10% public housing in the ACT. We would like to see some of this Commonwealth investment used to help us reach that goal.
“But we don’t yet know what this really means for the ACT. National initiatives sometimes deliver a lot less in practice than at first appears. And we understand a new funding formula will be introduced next year, which could result in less rather than more money coming to the ACT in any event.
“It’s fantastic to see this kind of commitment and focus from the Federal Government but details that are still missing” Ms Bresnan said.
On Tuesday the 16th December, over 1000 people attended Greens rallies around Australia to show their disappointment at the Rudd Governments’ emission targets. In Canberra, over 100 people rallied out the front of Parliament House, calling on the Rudd Government to pull down the white flag of surrender on Climate Change.
Senator Christine Milne and MLA Shane Rattenbury spoke to the crowd, calling this the start of the ‘people’s movement on climate change’. Senator Milne said that this rally would be the first of many in the lead up to the 2010 election, which would be a ‘referendum on climate change’.
MLA Shane Rattenbury pointed to the enquiry being conducted in the ACT, which would lead to a legislated target of at least 30% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 in the territory as the sorts of actions that need to be taken across the country to address serious climate change.
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