Page 835 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 16 June 1992
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Let us have a look at what micro-economic reform our colleagues opposite introduced in 18 months of government in the ACT.
Mr Humphries: Hospital redevelopment.
MR LAMONT: Marvellous. I was hoping that they would interject about the hospital redevelopment. There was the hospital redevelopment, yet they stand up here and start lambasting our Minister for Health for introducing the alleged reform process in the health system. They failed. One of the reasons why they got kicked out was simply that they failed. They tried and they failed.
Let us have a look at the other factors. First of all there was a press release, once again put out prior to question time today. I think it went out over Mr De Domenico's letterhead - Tony De Domenico, MLA. I understand that, while the MPI was actually run by Mr Westende, the news release went out from Mr De Domenico.
Mr Humphries: We work together. Teamwork, it is called.
MR LAMONT: If this is all your teamwork can come up with in three weeks you have a real problem. Let us have a look at it. You talk about corporatisation of certain areas of ACTION, which is currently costing ACT taxpayers $72m in subsidies. You have not been doing your homework, once again. Have a look at the reports provided to you and you will see what it is. Have a look at what the Grants Commission is saying. As the Minister has said, we are $7m over what is an appropriate $50m subsidy for this area.
You do not know the figures about which you are lambasting the Government, yet you stand up here trying to put yourselves forward as a credible alternative government. What a lot of hogwash! All we would get from the policies of the Opposition is the slash and burn approach - Dr Hewson's slash and burn approach. And you put yourselves up as a credible alternative!
Madam Speaker, I would dearly love to proceed for the next four minutes 33 seconds, but I have agreed with our colleague Ms Szuty - - -
Mr De Domenico: He has run out of things to say.
MR LAMONT: Not really, Mr De Domenico. I would like to wax lyrical for hours about the shortcomings of the Opposition, but I am sure that your inability to deliver will become apparent to the people of Canberra without me having to draw it to their attention.
Mr De Domenico: When we are in government.
MR LAMONT: That will be a very long time hence.
MS SZUTY (4.28): I will try to keep myself to the four minutes Mr Lamont has left me with. The matter of public importance debate today addresses the subject of micro-economic reform. Micro-economic reform can cover a wide agenda. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Kaine, has gone on the record in the past 24 hours to say that he feels that more could be cut from the health and education budgets. This ignores the tremendous outrage expressed by the Canberra community when the former Alliance Government tried to close many schools and successfully closed Royal Canberra Hospital.
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