2 October 2020

Campaign Trail: Gungahlin Police Station upgrades and a future jobs fund

| Dominic Giannini
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Giulia Jones

The Canberra Liberals’ police and emergency spokesperson Giulia Jones has promised upgrades to the Gungahlin Police Station. Photo: Dominic Giannini.

On The Campaign Trail today, the Libs promise Gungahlin a new emergency services centre, the Greens commit to youth mental health and Labor backs a future jobs fund.

Gungahlin will receive an upgraded police station and a dedicated emergency services station if the Liberals form government in October.

The announcement comes just days after the Justice and Community Services Committee – chaired by opposition police and emergency spokesperson Giulia Jones – recommended upgrades to the Gungahlin station.

“Our plan will be a major morale boost for first responders who are doing their best under tough working conditions,” Ms Jones said today (1 October).

“Our police, firies and ambulance officers make many personal sacrifices to keep our community safe.”

The Liberals also submitted 26 policies to Treasury for costing yesterday evening ahead of the only televised leaders debate.

READ MORE The ACT Leaders Debate: Barr and Coe play their greatest hits but land no knockout blows

Youth funding boost to kick off mental health month

Mental health month has kicked off with an $11.6 million youth mental health package from the Greens, including $2 million for a psychologist subsidy scheme, equating to 13,000 sessions a year.

Almost $2 million will go towards supporting parents, carers and families through initiatives like free seminars as well as funding for community organisations to deliver small parent peer support groups.

Ten additional child and adolescent mental health clinicians will also be employed to help cover gaps in the system, the Greens say.

$30 million future jobs fund

A Knowledge Capital Plan – including a $30 million jobs fund – to create jobs in future industries will be created if Labor is re-elected.

The plan will provide finance for job-creating or saving projects in the tertiary education and growth industry sector, defer payroll taxes for local universities, and expand the Canberra Innovation Network to CIT Tuggeranong and the University of Canberra in Belconnen.

“Our universities are also teaching the hundreds of nurses, allied health professionals and teachers that ACT Labor plans on hiring over the next four years,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.

Labor will also expand the age-friendly suburbs program to improve path networks and promote accessibly for older Canberrans.

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Why would you commit to upgrading a police station without waiting for a master accommodation plan to be done?

And even if you were, why would you do it backwards? It would be easier to relocate a police station that the other four services that are currently using that facility.

bit late to be submitting policies to treasury for costing… heaps of people have already voted

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