Page 3288 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 10 November 2021
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constant stream of negativity from the Canberra Liberals is about. Let us call it for what it is.
The Liberals’ hatred of light rail contorts them into some pretty interesting positions. Ms Lee used her budget reply to call for more construction apprentices in Canberra. That is fair enough; we support that. But Mr Parton is out there actively undermining the largest construction project in Canberra’s history—one that will support many training jobs. Raising London Circuit and the light rail stage 2A projects will work towards a minimum 10 per cent of labour spend on employing and supporting apprentices and trainees. These projects will also have a focus on supporting women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in trades.
If Ms Lee wants more apprentices on construction sites, why are the Liberals continuing their pattern of behaviour in attacking the largest infrastructure project in the territory that will support our apprentices? Ms Lee has been over in Glasgow, telling Scottish parliamentarians that she believes everyone wants climate change action and the ACT is right to put ambitious plans in place to tackle harmful emissions. Maybe she will be telling them what she told us—and I quote:
In the history of the planet, climate has always been changing and we, in our very short time on Earth in geological terms, need to be aware … and put that in context.
Anyway, here at home, here in Canberra, all that we hear are constant attacks on a project that will dramatically cut transport emissions for a cleaner environment and make it easier for people to use public transport, particularly on the south side, with stage 2 of light rail. I hope that at some point Ms Lee can lead her party to understanding what a big role light rail plays in the climate change story.
Ms Lee and the Canberra Liberals have a choice here. They can keep giving Mr Parton free rein to spout whatever nonsense comes into his mind when he is out in front of a shaky camera and, in the process, make it clear that they do not support light rail and cannot be trusted to deliver it to Woden; or they can turn down the volume on the “Parto conspiracy hour” and be part of a genuine conversation about how we are going to deliver what is a very complex and challenging infrastructure project in light rail stage 2 to Woden.
We welcome that conversation. Delivering Canberra’s biggest infrastructure project will not be easy. Mr Parton needs to understand that every time he flies off the handle, he just hands Canberrans yet more proof that the Liberals hate light rail, hate better public transport, and hate the thousands of jobs and opportunities for construction apprentices that it will create.
The government is happy to agree with this motion, with some minor amendments. In particular, we will bring forward an update on any further engagement with the New South Wales government and Canberra Metro about this issue before the end of the parliamentary year—not in 2022, as the original motion proposed. We know that this will be of strong interest to Canberrans, and we want to give people the maximum confidence to return to public transport, if the health situation allows it in the new year.
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