ACT Greens Parliamentary Convenor, Meredith Hunter MLA, will table a motion in the Legislative Assembly during Anti-Poverty Week calling on the Government to quarantine the community sector programs from the efficiency dividends in the 2010-11 Budget.

“Many of these services are on the very front line providing assistance to Canberra’s poor and needy and they are running lean organisations as it is.

“The Greens accept that efficiencies must be found in order to balance the budget over the economic cycle, but believe we can do so without cutting the vital services provided by the community sector.

“The Global Financial Crisis may be in retreat, but Canberrans initially hit, and those doing it tough before the crisis, still need support.

“Anti-Poverty Week draws attention to the issue of poverty that exists even in an affluent city like Canberra.

“The State of the Family report released by Anglicare Australia yesterday paints a tragic picture of those struggling with issues such as insecure housing, family breakdown, mental health and social inclusion. 

“This motion will safeguard the safety net of services that many people across the ACT rely on,” Ms Hunter said.

ACT Greens Parliamentary Convenor Meredith Hunter MLA has pointed to key initiatives in the ACT budget as setting the direction for the future.

“This Budget is a sign that with a strong Greens presence in the Legislative Assembly, the people of the ACT can expect a more sustainable Canberra – socially, economically and environmentally” Meredith Hunter said today.

“The budget incorporates many initiatives that we know the people of Canberra will welcome. They include the reopening of a library in the inner south, mental health training for teachers and emergency service the introduction of bus rapid transit, the expansion of Canberra’s urban wetlands, and a comprehensive program to improve home water and energy efficiency in our homes.”

“At a broader level, however, it is still not clear how this Government imagines we will work our way back from deficit. At its heart this is really a business as usual budget, rather than a vision for our times.”

“The ACT Greens /ALP agreement has delivered some key outcomes for Canberra people. But clearly there is a lot to be done now to make sure the initiatives in this budget are just the first steps to a sustainable economy for Canberra.”

“It needs the ACT Government itself to take on the challenge of building a fairer and more sustainable economy, as we work our way out of this recession” Ms Hunter said.

CIT Funding.pdf, Cycle and Footpaths.pdf, Homeless Legal Service.pdf, Plastic Bags.pdf, Switch Your Thinking.pdf, Community Sector Funding.pdf, Environment Package.pdf, Inner South Library.pdf, Public Transport.pdf, Urban Wetlands.pdf, Court Mental Health Staff.pdf, Grasslands Plan.pdf, Mental Health Training.pdf, Recycling.pdf

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.