Page 1917 - Week 07 - Thursday, 31 May 1990
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think that the education standards are very bad indeed and we should make a major effort to raise them.
I would like to turn for a moment to the Minister for Education, Mr Humphries. Rather than give him heat - because he has had enough of that - I make a point that Gary has had the courage to go along to meeting after meeting and bear the brunt of a very strong emotional reaction from people in Canberra. I do not say that is right or wrong; nevertheless he repeatedly has gone along and not shirked that duty. It is a duty and we should all accept the responsibility to bear the heat, together with the accolades. Unfortunately, it has been the case that practically nothing Gary says will satisfy people. They only want to hear one thing - that the schools are not going to close. I admire the man for having the courage to go along, and that should be acknowledged. He is in a difficult position. I honestly believe that he is trying to do the best he can.
Mr Berry mentioned a short while ago that the concerns of businesses were not being looked at in this debate. From the point of view of the economics of the whole thing, I think it is important to look at that aspect. We should be creating a haven for small businesses in Canberra. That would enable businesses here to flourish and prosper and would entice businesses from other States to come to the ACT and new businesses to start.
It is unfortunate that the Alliance recently introduced a Bill into this Assembly, yet to be debated, that would work against that happening by spreading the net of stamp duty. In reality, the whole thing should be done away with. This is a very short-term grab. Perhaps the only logical way that Canberra is going to get out of its economic nightmare is by supporting small business - not so much by doing things for it, but by not doing things to it. The free enterprise spirit in Australia, the entrepreneurial spirit, will do marvellously well if left alone. Let us get the regulations off businesses. Let us stop taxing them to death.
I think most people understand that the bureaucracy is too top-heavy with people in the administrative side as against people actually producing. We need to focus attention on this. Let us use the knowledge that is contained within the public service, within the public area, and within this Government to work together to achieve our aims.
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (11.43): It is remarkable that this debate, which Mrs Grassby said was only a smokescreen, has attracted such a large number of speakers - - -
Mr Wood: She meant your statement rather than this debate.
MR HUMPHRIES: Well, okay; the statement I made indicating all the initiatives the Government was considering in the
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