The ACT’s federal Labor parliamentarians David Smith, Alicia Payne, Katy Gallagher and Andrew Leigh highlighting the Federal Budget’s benefits for Canberra. Photo: Region.
Fifty million dollars for the duplication of Drake Brockman Drive and another $50 million investment for Canberra to Sydney rail upgrades were the big-ticket items in the Federal Budget for the ACT.
But the RSPCA emerged as another winner, with a $30 million budget gift for its planned new animal welfare campus in Pialligo.
That Federal Government commitment follows a $40 million allocation from last year’s ACT Budget to build the RSPCA’s new digs.
Federal Finance Minister and ACT Senator Katy Gallagher said the Federal Government had worked collaboratively with the ACT Government to get the new animal shelter built.
“I am particularly proud of the $30 million investment for the RSPCA, which will finally mean that that organisation that does such important work in Canberra can finish the new build of the best RSPCA the city could hope for,” she said.
Senator Gallagher said that far from being just a new shed, the Pialligo facility will be a best-practice shelter for the care of animals, replacing the current one in Weston Creek, which she described as “inappropriate”.
“It allows that to be funded entirely,” she said.
“It also releases that land in Weston Creek … potentially for additional housing.”
All four of the ACT’s federal Labor parliamentarians gathered at Parliament House on Wednesday (13 May) to talk up the highlights of Tuesday’s Federal Budget for the ACT.
Describing it as a “really strong budget for Canberra, Senator Gallagher said it amounted to a $4 billion investment in the capital since Labor came to office federally.
“This budget builds on the strongest commitment any federal government has made to Canberra, investing in the infrastructure, national institutions and community projects our growing city needs,” she said.
Assistant Minister and Member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh said the budget recognised Canberra’s dual role as a local community and as Australia’s national capital.
“It invests in the roads, rail, housing infrastructure and services that matter to residents, while strengthening the institutions that preserve our democracy, science and culture,” he said.
“By supporting more housing and making the tax system fairer, it gives more Canberrans a better chance to turn the key in a front door of their own.”
The ACT Government issued a statement welcoming the Federal Budget’s “decisive shift toward fairer treatment of Canberra” and for focusing on the most important issues facing the community.
“It reflects continued sustained national investment in the nation’s capital and responds to long‑standing ACT advocacy on the need to tackle intergenerational fairness,” ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.
But the Labor love-in was naturally not shared by the Canberra Liberals, who condemned the Federal Budget as “another major failure for Canberra”.
Canberra Liberals Leader Mark Parton said the budget proved Labor continues to take the capital for granted.
He said the budget did not forgive the ACT’s historic housing debt, address the hundreds of millions of dollars the ACT misses out on because the Commonwealth does not pay payroll tax, or fix the chronic underfunding of municipal services payments to the Territory.
“Canberrans are paying more and getting less. While other jurisdictions secured major transport and infrastructure investments, the ACT was left with scraps,” Mr Parton said.
“Katy Gallagher has spent years talking about Canberra being treated unfairly, but now, as Finance Minister, she has failed to deliver any meaningful change for her own constituents.
“The ACT Labor Government constantly complains about pressures on Canberra, yet they have failed to fight for a better deal from their Federal colleagues.”
Canberra‑specific initiatives supported through the Federal Budget (many of which had already been announced) include:
- $50 million for the ACT’s share of the Housing Support Program
- Funding of $3.1 million has been committed to the National Jewish Memorial Centre
- $30 million for an RSPCA animal welfare campus in Pialligo
- $200,000 to support victim-survivors in the ACT through the Local Support Coordinator Program
- $1.4 million to improve youth mental health services in the ACT
- $50 million for the duplication of Drake Brockman Drive and a further $4.6 million to progress planning work for the Molonglo East–West Arterial
- A $50 million investment in priority upgrades to the Sydney to Canberra rail corridor
- $9.9 million for the National Film and Sound Archive to help protect and preserve nationally significant collections
- $3 million for the Museum of Australian Democracy as it prepares for its centenary, ensuring Old Parliament House remains a place where people can learn about Australia’s democratic history, and
- $387.4 million over four years for the long-term sustainability of the CSIRO (which also has sites and staff beyond the ACT).
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
