Page 2218 - Week 07 - Thursday, 6 June 1991
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being implemented in the legislative program that you will find attached to the document that I previously tabled. This shows which parts of our policies had been achieved and those which were in process.
The Rally will be a vigilant watchdog during the remaining months of this Assembly. It will exercise this role in a responsible and responsive manner. I will continue to seek to play a role in the development of policies and programs, particularly in the areas of planning, conservation and the environment, and I give, once again, a firm commitment to groups and individuals that I will make myself available to discuss the various issues in those areas as they come to hand.
MR STEVENSON (5.05): The people of Canberra have no confidence in any government in this Assembly. Indeed, they have no confidence in any of us. Mr Kaine said that self-government was thrust upon us by a cynical Federal Labor government. Indeed, that is true; but, of course, it was also agreed upon by a cynical Federal Liberal Party.
The tremendous opposition against self-government in Canberra was because people well knew that they would never be able to pay for the nation's showplace. It just could not be done. They realised that with self-government would come increased taxes and charges and reduced services. Indeed, since self-government, what we have had is increased taxes and charges and reduced services, particularly in the schools and at the Royal Canberra Hospital.
I certainly believe that the Alliance did not close schools or the Royal Canberra Hospital because they wanted to. I believe that it was simply because they looked at the books. When you look at the books you realise that Canberra cannot afford to pay for a State-like government. We never could. We never will be able to. So, the Alliance, in their way, supported by the Residents Rally, made certain decisions that are totally unpopular with people in Canberra. Indeed, our surveys show that people in Canberra do not want the Royal Canberra Hospital closed as a hospital. They do not want it used for community health services. They want it kept as a hospital, though not necessarily as the major hospital. Some other people, perhaps, would like to put a casino there.
As far as the schools are concerned, people in Canberra generally believe that the schools should be maintained as community services. The buildings should not be bulldozed and, if, at a later time, there is need for more schools, then those schools should be reopened. I support the people on maintaining Royal Canberra Hospital as a hospital and not allowing the schools to be closed where the community does not want them closed or wants them held so
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