8 October 2020

Campaign Trail: questioning e-Coe-nomics and more green for the Arboretum

| Dominic Giannini
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Arboretum

Labor will spend more than $2 million on upgrades for the Arboretum if they are re-elected in October. Photo: File.

On The Campaign Trail today, Barr raises the heat on Coe’s grow-the-pie economic theory, Labor commits $2 million for the Arboretum and the Greens promise more support for sexual assault survivors.

Is e-Coe-nomics a pie-in-the-sky magic pudding?

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has asked any economist who backs the Canberra Liberals’ “grow the pie” economic theory to put their hands up after Liberal leader Alistair Coe told ABC Radio that economists both inside and outside the Liberal Party have backed his claims.

“The Leader of the Opposition must release the advice that he is basing his ‘magic pudding’ theory of economics on, after confirming this morning that he has a team of economists supporting his theory. As an alternative Chief Minister, he has to show the ACT community how he plans on supporting the growth of the ACT’s economy during this global economic crisis,” Mr Barr said.

“Hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue would be needed to pay for the Canberra Liberals uncosted promises and forgone revenue.

“Where are these people going to live? What schools are these families going to use? Where are the Canberra Liberals’ plans for the additional public healthcare, the public transport and the jobs that would be needed to support this huge increase in population?”

Mr Coe said a Liberal government would not borrow a single dollar more than what is already set out in the budget forecasts while lowering taxes and delivering better services in the ACT.

Under the model, Mr Coe would seek to increase the population of the Territory – enticing people from surrounding regional areas like Googong and Jerrabomberra with lower house prices and a lower cost of living. This would translate to more revenue through rates and taxes, he said.

Alistair Coe and Nicole Lawder

Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe and deputy leader Nicole Lawder demonstrating their pie-growing skills. Photo: Dominic Giannini.

Labor commits to fast-tracked Arboretum upgrades

A re-elected Labor Government has promised to spend $2.2 million on upgrades for the National Arboretum within six months of taking office.

Wheelchair accessible paths will be installed in Central Valley and the Himalayan Cedar Forest while around 4.5 kilometres of the Arboretum’s 17 km network will be upgraded under the proposal.

The measure is part of the ACT Government’s fast-tracked infrastructure program to kickstart the Territory’s economy, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.

Greens to simplify reporting for sexual assaults

The Greens have promised to commission a feasibility study to bring together key agencies such as forensics, policing, support services and other criminal justice entities to provide a single centre for sexual assault survivors.

The study will consider the best possible location and operating model so people who have experienced sexual assaults need to only make one report, rather than repeating the traumatic story multiple times to multiple agencies, the party said.

The proposal comes off the back of a justice system which is failing victims with a low probability of charges being laid (5 per cent of cases) and a 50 per cent conviction rate for matters that do proceed to court, the Greens said.

Thousands of new jobs for Canberra

The Greens say their policies will create 4,500 new jobs in the ACT to help the Territory’s economic recovery through infrastructure projects and expansion of the public service.

The breakdown includes over 3,000 jobs under its signature social housing policy, 840 in renewable energy infrastructure and retrofitting for houses, 200 in waste management, 191 new early childhood educators and 100 in expanded drug and alcohol services.

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HiddenDragon7:23 pm 08 Oct 20

In the interests of balance, could we have a running total for the costs of all the election promises made by ACT Labor and their Green coalition partners – or does that detail not matter because Bill Barrnacle and Sam Sawnoff have sole custody of the ACT Magic Pudding?

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