Australian Capital Territoy Budget 2008-2009

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