Australian Capital Territoy Budget 2008-2009

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The ACT 2008/09 Budget was delivered by Treasurer Jon Stanhope on 6th May, 2008.

Budget measures focus on infrastructure development and addressing problems arising from a skills shortage and climate change.

The Budget includes significant capital investment, with a five-year, $1 billion Building the Future program of investment in the Territory’s infrastructure.

The 2008-09 Budget provides for targeted recurrent expenditure of $403.6 million over the next four years, including $105.5 million in 2008/09.

The Budget shows a net operating surplus of 1.7 percent per annum, on average. It delivers a surplus of $84.9 million

Specific Projects include:

Infrastructure

$1 billion over five years for the Building the Future Infrastructure Investment Program (about $700 million funded from past surpluses, and $300 million from the current and future budget capacity), providing:
$300 million for the health system
$250 million for the transport system
$100 million for improvements to urban amenities
$100 million for adaptation to climate change initiatives
$200 million for capital works augmentation
$50 million for improvements to public service infrastructure
$31 million in feasibility studies to plan future infrastructure needs

Taxation

Pension duty exemption scheme, providing duty relief for people on aged or disability support pensions
Homebuyer Concession Scheme income eligibility raised from $100,000 to $120,000
20 percent increase in the Payroll Tax Threshold, with a new upper ceiling of $1.5 million
Abolition of Duty on the Establishment of Trusts

Health

$300 million over four years for the health infrastructure program Your Health-Our Priority, with works including:
$90 million for the construction of a Women’s and Children’s Centre of Excellence
$18 million for a new Community Health Centre in Gungahlin
$37.6 million for mental health facilities at the Canberra Hospital
$9.4 million for a new Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit at Calvary Hospital
$12.6 million over four years to meet elective surgery demand
$16.8 million over four years to meet growth in demand for acute services
$8.5 million over four years for expanded mental health services
$10.5 million over four years to increase critical care capacity
$5.5 million over four years for the health workforce

Transport

$250 million over five years for integrated transport systems, including:
$49.5 million for the ACTION bus fleet replacement program
$20 million for the Flemington Road duplication
$21 million for upgrades to Tharwa Drive and the Airport roads

Education, Skills and Training

$3.5 million to establish early childhood schools
$1.9 million over four years to fund programs at the early childhood schools
$5.3 million over four years for equity initiatives, including $3.5 million for students with a disability
$3.8 million for improving teaching and school leadership
$3.4 million over four years for careers and transition education
$4.2 million over four years for vocational education and training
$1.9 million over four years for an immediate response to the skills shortage

Environment

$100 million from the Building the Future Investment Program for adaptation to climate change, under the Weathering the Change strategy, including:
$16.3 million over four years for tree plantings
$11.3 million to cover increased water costs for town maintenance
$6.1 million over four years for care of the natural environment
$3.9 million over four years for Switch Your Thinking water, energy and waste programs
$18.5 million over four years for waste management, including $12.1 million for waste contract services
$3 million over four years for energy efficient street lights
$1.6 million over four years for carbon neutral schools

Community and Social Welfare

$24.6 million over two years for the refurbishment of surplus schools into community facilities and neighbourhood halls
$3.6 million over four years to assist community organisations address disadvantage in the community
$4.1 million over four years to develop a regulatory system for screening people who work with vulnerable people
$1.9 million over four years to extend the eligibility for the ACT water concession to all Centrelink HealthCare cardholders, Temporary Protection Visa holders and asylum seekers
$1.6 million in 2008/09 for the planning and development of affordable housing in new suburbs

Law and Justice

$2.8 million over four years for improved courts technology and case management systems.
$8 million over four years for an increased CCTV network
$2.4 million in 2008/09 and $10.1 million over four years for Prison and Offender Related initiatives
$17.7 million over four years for a new Belconnen Police Station
$3.4 million in 2008/09 and $12.9 million over four years for Emergency Services Operation Response Capacity

Sports and Leisure

$22.2 million over four years to support sport in the ACT, including:
$8 million for the ‘Where will we play?’ initiative

ICT

$50 million for ICT from the Building the Future program
$16.7 million to fund ICT initiatives across the government, including:
$7.7 million for fibre optic cabling for government primary schools
$1 million over three years for IT systems and equipment upgrades at the Canberra Institute of Technology