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Social advocacy groups say the ACT government has not gone far enough in helping groups most affected by COVID-19, following a territory budget that has drawn a mixed response from politicians and industry groups. ACT Council of Social Services chief executive Emma Campbell said she was disappointed in the announcements made in Tuesday’s budget, and that more investments were needed for social and affordable housing. “The budget has fallen short on the kind of investment and vision that we think is required to ensure vulnerable Canberrans or those on low income are protected as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis,” Ms Campbell said. “We want to see the same priority being given to investing in housing that the ACT government is giving to other major infrastructure like the light rail and climate change.” The chief executive did praise, however, measures such as $150 million earmarked for interest-free loans for houses to spend on rooftop solar panels and battery storage to make energy more affordable. Graham Catt, chief executive of the Canberra Business Chamber, thought that the initiative should also have been extended towards small and micro-businesses in the ACT as part of COVID recovery measures. While he said the economic outlook that was underpinning the budget was welcome and that the forecast had improved since last August, he said many small businesses were still doing it tough in the recovery period. “We would’ve liked to have seen more focus on initiatives that were targeted at supporting local businesses,” he said. The chief executive of the Master Builders Association ACT, Michael Hopkins, was more optimistic in his view of the budget, in particular the $912 million infrastructure and capital works projects that were set aside. “We’re pleased to have seen a budget that put infrastructure at the centre and it recognised that it plays a leading role in helping the economy recover after a pandemic,” he said. Mr Hopkins said the lack of increase in building taxes or levies would assist builders and developers to get projects through to keep the construction sector moving in the months ahead. Meanwhile, ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury welcomed the $300 million set aside for climate change initiatives. “We wanted to see climate action in this budget, to ensure the ACT continues to boost Australia’s electric vehicle sector, which this budget does, with a program of interest-free loans and free rego for two years on new zero emissions vehicles,” Mr Rattenbury said. “This budget helps us begin to build a better normal and delivers an array of key items in the parliamentary and governing agreement.” Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said Tuesday’s budget failed to outline a vision, and took aim at potential tax increases next financial year. “While Canberra has performed well during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to other states and territories, many families and small businesses are still struggling. Slugging them with tax increases in four months’ time will make matters worse,” she said. “Despite promising to fix waiting times within nine months, this budget embeds the current problems and sees more delays to our hospital infrastructure continue, with the Canberra Hospital expansion running years behind schedule.” Chief executive of the Australian Medical Association ACT Peter Sommerville said there wasn’t much in the budget in terms of health with the exception of COVID measures. “The big challenge is funding in the long term for the health system, and until the government addresses that, we’d be concerned the same pressures will manifest in the hospital with waiting times and elective surgery,” he said.
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Social advocacy groups say the ACT government has not gone far enough in helping groups most affected by COVID-19, following a territory budget that has drawn a mixed response from politicians and industry groups.
ACT Council of Social Services chief executive Emma Campbell said she was disappointed in the announcements made in Tuesday’s budget, and that more investments were needed for social and affordable housing.
“The budget has fallen short on the kind of investment and vision that we think is required to ensure vulnerable Canberrans or those on low income are protected as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis,” Ms Campbell said.
“We want to see the same priority being given to investing in housing that the ACT government is giving to other major infrastructure like the light rail and climate change.”
The chief executive did praise, however, measures such as $150 million earmarked for interest-free loans for houses to spend on rooftop solar panels and battery storage to make energy more affordable.
Graham Catt, chief executive of the Canberra Business Chamber, thought that the initiative should also have been extended towards small and micro-businesses in the ACT as part of COVID recovery measures.
While he said the economic outlook that was underpinning the budget was welcome and that the forecast had improved since last August, he said many small businesses were still doing it tough in the recovery period.
“We would’ve liked to have seen more focus on initiatives that were targeted at supporting local businesses,” he said.
The chief executive of the Master Builders Association ACT, Michael Hopkins, was more optimistic in his view of the budget, in particular the $912 million infrastructure and capital works projects that were set aside.
“We’re pleased to have seen a budget that put infrastructure at the centre and it recognised that it plays a leading role in helping the economy recover after a pandemic,” he said.
Mr Hopkins said the lack of increase in building taxes or levies would assist builders and developers to get projects through to keep the construction sector moving in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury welcomed the $300 million set aside for climate change initiatives.
“We wanted to see climate action in this budget, to ensure the ACT continues to boost Australia’s electric vehicle sector, which this budget does, with a program of interest-free loans and free rego for two years on new zero emissions vehicles,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“This budget helps us begin to build a better normal and delivers an array of key items in the parliamentary and governing agreement.”
Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said Tuesday’s budget failed to outline a vision, and took aim at potential tax increases next financial year.
“While Canberra has performed well during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to other states and territories, many families and small businesses are still struggling. Slugging them with tax increases in four months’ time will make matters worse,” she said.
“Despite promising to fix waiting times within nine months, this budget embeds the current problems and sees more delays to our hospital infrastructure continue, with the Canberra Hospital expansion running years behind schedule.”
Chief executive of the Australian Medical Association ACT Peter Sommerville said there wasn’t much in the budget in terms of health with the exception of COVID measures.
“The big challenge is funding in the long term for the health system, and until the government addresses that, we’d be concerned the same pressures will manifest in the hospital with waiting times and elective surgery,” he said.
