Canberra taken for granted
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has described the damaging cuts to the national cultural institutions reported today as evidence of the contempt for Canberra most politicians like to display, and the consequence of being a safe Labor town.
"Canberra is seen as safe for Labor so it is – and always has been - easy prey for governments wanting to look tough" Dr Foskey said today.
"While the Greens are on the same side as Liberal Senator Humphries on this issue, if Kerrie Tucker had been elected in his place in November, we might have been in a much stronger bargaining position."
"It is disappointing that Labor takes its three ACT seats so much for granted. I suspect things won’t change until they also come under the level of pressure that Senator Humphries did last year."
"These expenditure cuts are driven by concerns about inflation pressure. A pressure that is the result of years of poor policies from a Howard government which forced up house prices, failed to invest in infrastructure, and sought to buy votes with indiscriminate tax cuts and subsidies."
"Given the Howard Government was not particularly generous in funding the National Library or Museum in any event, I am concerned at the impact that Rudd’s unnecessary cuts will have."
"Sadly, the city of Canberra has become the sacrificial lamb to a hairy-chested Government locked into much grander, unaffordable, tax promises."
"The ACT Government was always prepared to stand up to John Howard. Let’s see if it will stand up to Kevin Rudd as well."
"I'm happy to give it a push in the Assembly, if that would help" Dr Foskey said.
