The ACT Greens have today welcomed the 2020-21 Budget which includes major investments in Real Climate Action, A Home for All and making sure Canberra is the most sustainable, ecologically-friendly city in the country.
"This Budget helps us begin to Build a Better Normal and delivers an array of key items in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement," ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said. "Over the past decade, the ACT Greens have shown that we aren't afraid of tackling large-scale challenges, fighting for equality, social justice and a stronger community. Addressing these challenges is building a more resilient economy for all of us.
"The ACT Greens play a key role in helping shape the Budget, ensuring that we are investing where it matters and our city delivers for the many, not the few.
"The ACT Greens took climate action and housing and environmental investments as key priorities for action this term - we are pleased that this budget delivers key items in all of these areas.
"We wanted to see climate action in this budget, to ensure the ACT continues to boost Australia's electric vehicle sector, which this Budget does, with a program of interest-free loans and free rego for two years on new zero emissions vehicles.
"The ACT Greens committed to helping people make the switch to efficient electric appliances, which will now be funded through the $150 million Sustainable Households Scheme. The Budget also commits $855,000 to helping the community transition off gas, including the move to all electric suburbs in new parts of Canberra.
"We will repair the land and waterways with $4.5 million, which will improve the health of our waterways, tackle weeds and invasive plant species and appoint permanent Ngunnawal rangers to Care for Country.
"During the election, the ACT Greens promised a Home for All, and the $2.6 million in this budget begins to fulfill that promise. We also promised to support the Early Morning Centre to keep its doors open over the weekend, which has now been funded in this budget.
"The 2020-21 Budget also provides $15.8 million to extend a range of mental health programs and services, including funding for Safe Haven Cafes to make mental health support more accessible for Canberrans and expanding the Police, Ambulance, Clinician Emergency Response (PACER) to seven days a week, two vital ACT Greens initiatives."
