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Canberra Today 25°/29° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Hanson demands an end to light rail

Jeremy Hanson

LIBERAL Leader Jeremy Hanson is demanding Katy Gallagher bring an end to the light rail project after her revelations this morning about how much money the Federal Liberal budget cuts were tearing out of the ACT Health budget.

“Katy Gallagher is warning Canberrans of long term funding shortfalls in health and education and it is inconceivable that at the same time she would demand Canberrans fund the $614 million light rail project,” Jeremy said.

“The case has not been made for light rail and I will be putting our nurses, teachers, children and surgery patients as my number one priority and Katy Gallagher should do the same.


UPDATE: Meanwhile the Liberal Senator Seselja says things aren’t really so bad and are the Chief Minister’s fault anyway.

“The 2014-15 Federal Budget shows that in 2013 – 14, the ACT will receive $43.8m more than expected in funding, followed by $3.8m in 2014-15. The budget also provides for additional funding based on performance. The performance targets set were agreed to by the Chief Minister in her deal with former Prime Minister Rudd,” Zed said.

“ACT Health under the Chief Minister’s direction has failed to meet a number of targets that would have ensured that Canberrans would have access to additional health funding in the past and in the future. It is still possible for Ms Gallagher to achieve this additional funding if she focuses on service delivery.”


UPDATE: Meanwhile the Greens’ Shane Rattenbury says now is the time to spend.

“Now is exactly the time we should be investing in major infrastructure to diversify the economy in our city in the face of the cuts that are being imposed by the Federal Coalition Government,” Shane said.

“There is a big difference between capital investment for major city infrastructure like light-rail and recurrent funding for health and education services which the Federal Liberals have cut in this budget.”

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