Page 74 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 May 1989
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the community are fundamental to liberalism. The Labor Party does not have exclusive ownership of such ideals.
We support unreservedly the proposition that the disadvantaged in our community must receive our support and assistance, whether that disability arises from age, economic circumstance, race, sex or physical or mental disability.
We are agreed that environmental issues should be at the top of the Government's priority list rather than at the bottom. Pollution and degradation of our world from whatever source must be vigorously resisted, and wilful assaults on the environment must be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Appropriate legislation must be enacted without delay.
Education must be maintained at the present level of excellence. The Government must build on the good foundations of our education system to create an environment where high standards and excellence are the primary objectives.
The Opposition in particular will be pressing to ensure that tertiary education in the ACT is maintained at its present high standard. The amalgamation of the ANU and CCAE is the biggest issue in that regard, and the Government should be aware that the Opposition will need considerably more evidence than has hitherto been available to persuade it that the amalgamation should proceed.
This Assembly will need to devote urgent attention to the crisis in our health system. There are problems in almost every area from a top-heavy bureaucracy, to poor industrial relations, to inefficient organisation of health resources and facilities. The cost of health care in Canberra is unacceptably high; it is a priority of the Liberal Opposition to ensure that this does not remain the case. There is no doubt that Mr Berry has one of the most pressing tasks on his hands, because an improved health delivery system is probably the most urgent current need for this community.
But merely to say that such objectives have the support of the Liberal Party in opposition is inadequate. We have an agenda too, and we will work diligently towards the achievement of our objectives whether in opposition or, later, in government.
One of the first objectives of the parliament clearly must be to establish a sound economic and financial base. This is a difficult task given our lack of natural resources. It has been exacerbated by the Commonwealth Government's reneging already on previously unequivocal commitments to our funding. This, presumably, will be the case during the following three years, in respect of which Commonwealth guarantees were given but which we should now expect will not be honoured.
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