Page 2140 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 29 May 1991
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On Monday evening I listened very carefully to about a 5- to 10-minute wrap-up of the election in New South Wales and the reason why the Greiner Government went from a position of being almost a sure thing to it being close, with the votes still being counted almost a week after the election. As I see it, it was because those members of the Liberal Government in New South Wales failed to listen to the message that was being sent to them by the people of New South Wales. They failed to understand that attacks on the fabric of their society were biting hard and deep. A lot of people in New South Wales kept their powder dry until Saturday when they eventually cast their votes. There was a grave miscalculation, Mr Speaker.
I suspect that, when the chickens come home to roost in February next year, the same thing will be found in relation to the Liberal members of this Government. They were given a clear opportunity, as they were throughout the debates and discussions within government in relation to the schools issue and the hospital issue, to consider alternative proposals. But, Mr Speaker, they chose to ignore them; they chose not to listen to the views of a group within that Government that was clearly in contact with the community. They failed to listen to the views and suggestions that there should be a proper period of consultation in relation to these things. I sent a letter to the Chief Minister - - -
Mr Moore: You voted against it. It is recorded in the minutes.
MR JENSEN: Will you let me finish. Mr Speaker, in relation to the period for consultation, I sent a letter to the Chief Minister advising him that, as a member of his Government, as his Executive Deputy at the time, I considered that he should provide no more and no less than the period allowed for the consultation process in relation to the schools that were closed by the Federal Labor Government. Unfortunately, once again, the Liberal Party has chosen to ignore the advice that came from me. So, be it on its head.
Mr Speaker, I joined the Alliance Government because I felt that it was important, under our Westminster system, to be able to participate fully in that Government. One has to ask Mr Moore how many policies of the Residents Rally he has been able to achieve during his period on the cross bench. I suggest that when his report card is marked he will not be able to point to too many policies.
However, I think we will find that it is quite clear that during the period that the Rally has been part of an executive government, with the Deputy Chief Minister responsible for many very important social justice and social equity policies within the ACT, there has been a major contribution on the part of the Rally leader to the good government of the ACT.
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