Page 2407 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 1991
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should also be required, to allow movement between the ACT public service and the Commonwealth Public Service, to allow some changes, fresh ideas and new concepts to be brought into our public service. But that will not happen if there is not the opportunity for people to move quickly and easily between the various public services.
It could also be argued, as I know some have, that one of the problems and the costs of the ACT public service is that we have costs associated with a much wider organisation, such as the Commonwealth Public Service, which are inappropriate for a small organisation like the ACT Government Service. Community involvement and community views are very important, and community advice assists governments to make informed decisions. An economic planning council, as I have said, would provide this independent community advice.
Proposals for the growth of Canberra and the region need to be looked at and adhered to. I notice that Ms Follett has continued the commitment that was started by the previous Chief Minister - - -
Ms Follett: By me.
MR JENSEN: Maybe you started it, but Mr Kaine picked it up and improved it, and you have an opportunity to improve it even further, Ms Follett. The economic climate of the ACT is very dependent upon its neighbours and the success or otherwise of their economic strategies. The ACT, Mr Speaker, is not an island; it is part of a region, and it must relate specifically to that region.
Growth also depends increasingly on the private sector, which is where we should look for job creation. Canberra has a number of advantages in this area. We have a highly educated work force and the facilities for further education. We need only to look at our two universities and our TAFE colleges for examples of what opportunities can be provided. The encouragement of further private sector employment is essential, especially in high-tech, light manufacturing industries. As I have already indicated, a progressive reduction in payroll tax would encourage business to the ACT.
However, there is a trade-off that must be made to ensure that, when the recession that we had to have finally turns around, because of the amount of money and effort that is injected into training and its highly educated work force the ACT is in a position to take up the opportunities that the change in the overall economy of our country will offer. Incentives such as these will revitalise the ACT economy. We are not a large territory which has access to major transport systems which in turn open markets interstate and overseas; so we have to provide opportunities for those industries which can draw on a highly skilled and well educated work force.
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