Page 189 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 February 1990
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Mr Kaine has even made things more difficult ... Though each of his five members is of high calibre and will have some contribution to make, the board is noticeable for lacking any input from the trade-union movement - that sector whose cooperation will be absolutely essential if any real changes are to be achieved.
It is incomprehensible to me how such a board could have been established without reference to the trade union movement. Although I have been a trade union member, I am not bound by the trade unions; I am not tied to the trade unions as, in some ways, are my Labor colleagues. But to not have them represented on a board of this nature is totally reprehensible. I strongly urge the Government to ensure that this board is expanded to include members of the community who fit into that category.
I am also horrified by the fact that all members of the board are of the ilk that is likely to lack empathy for the average workers. I understand the average wage today in Canberra is around $30,000 a year. I wonder how long it has been since the members of that board knew what it was like to live on $30,000 a year. I wonder how long it is since they knew what it was like to look for a job. They are in the business of cutting 3,000 jobs and deciding where they will be cut.
The Chief Minister suggests that there is no risk of cutting Floriade, and I have no particular debate one way or the other with that. I am using it as an example that he pre-empts what the razor gang is going to find and says, "There is no risk of cutting the Floriade", but - and I heard him say it on radio - we will expect to see cuts to education and health because they are the biggest areas. What absolute nonsense! The trouble is that we have to distinguish between short-term advantage and long-term advantage. We have to look at those who are interested in making money and we have to look at those caring professions. It would appear that the caring professions are the ones that are already targeted by such statements of the Chief Minister.
Mr Berry: Close Canberra hospital.
MR MOORE: I will get to Canberra hospital in a minute. Will you remind me? The long-term investment in the ACT has to do with education. If we do not have our children educated to the highest standard we can hardly expect the ACT to be producing people who can compete in the marketplace, especially when we are also having recommended to us projects like the very fast train and the multifunction polis. We will be looking to highly educated people to support such programs. Education is absolutely critical, and getting the best education for all our children is the most critical factor. That does not mean aiming cuts at those areas.
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