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