ANDREW Barr has delivered this year’s budget and included a cheery video of the highlights:

“This budget – like those before it – delivers more services today and in coming years, and builds on our plan to secure a better future for Canberra,” Andrew said.

“It does this by balancing the books. This is thanks to careful spending and sensible policies to support our economy. When our largest employer, the Commonwealth Government, cut jobs, we used the ACT Budget to stimulate the economy. Our economy has weathered the storm. Now exports are up to all time highs and unemployment is down – the lowest rate in Australia.

“This strong economy means revenues are also up, which has put us on a clear and credible budget path. We’ve put the budget in a $500 million better position.”

The Chief is also bullish about the economy.

“Economic growth is expected to increase to 2 per cent in 2015-16, up from 1.4 per cent in 2014-15 and 0.7 per cent in 2013-14,” Andrew said.

“Our unemployment rate has fallen to 4.1 per cent – the lowest in the country.

“The economy created over 6,000 private sector jobs between February 2015 and February 2016.

“Our economy is also more diverse. International service exports grew 16 per cent last year, to reach $1.6 billion. The Territory’s service export growth over the last 15 years is the strongest of any state or territory.

“Retail trade and building approvals show that confidence in our economy remains strong: the Territory recorded the highest retail growth of any jurisdiction over the past year, and our building approvals are growing – up 28 per cent in the past 12 months.

“The Territory’s population is forecast to grow at 1.5 per cent each year. We will reach the 400,000 milestone later this year and are projected to reach 420,000 by 2019-20.”

Andrew is also confident he has the Territory’s debt under control.

“Consistent with last year’s budget, the Government is forecasting a return to balanced budgets in 2017-18 and 2018-19, with strong surpluses from 2019-20 onwards,” Andrew said.

“Our net debt remains at prudent levels, and we have kept a AAA stable credit rating – the strongest possible rating.”