Page 2031 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 8 September 1992
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I refer to the sort of social agenda that this Government purports to have. I quote from page 50 of the Labor Party policy - ACT Division, I might say. Paragraph 3.3.4 says:
Ensure that May Day be introduced as a public holiday ... and that the Trades and Labour Council Picnic Day be proclaimed a school holiday in the ACT.
Mr Berry and other members of the Government stand up and say how out of touch we are with reality. Let me assure Mr Berry that any government today trying to proclaim May Day as a public holiday and TLC Picnic Day as a school holiday is really looking at reality in terms of the unemployment level in this town!
What the Government fails to acknowledge is this: It was not a Liberal government that has given us the highest unemployment since the Depression. It was Mr Keating, Treasurer for nine years and Prime Minister for about six months. When he delivered his last budget the unemployment level in this country was 11.1 per cent. Mr Lamont, there are one million people in Australia out of a job. The most important social justice that any government can do in this nation is give people jobs. That is the most important thing you can do. Nothing that this Government has done, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, has created one single job.
Let us have a look at what this Government has done. It has amended abortion legislation, without telling anybody prior to the election that it was going to do it. It has done more than that; it has also banned animals from circuses in the ACT. That has created a lot of jobs. It is going to decriminalise marijuana very shortly - a wonderful aspect of social justice.
Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. Mr De Domenico persists in reflecting on votes in the Assembly and pre-empting debate on issues that are on the notice paper.
MADAM TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs Grassby): Would you please refrain from doing that, Mr De Domenico?
MR DE DOMENICO: Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. Seeing that we are in a reflective mood, let us get really reflective, Mr Berry. What has your Government done about social justice issues? It has increased rates - - -
Mr Lamont: The Liberals' new social policy is homelands in South Tuggeranong.
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, would you please protect me from that person on the other side of the house? What have you done? You have increased rates and charges. That is wonderful social justice for all those pensioners paying more electricity and water rates. You have brought in the land tax Bill, once again affecting all sorts of other people. You called us idiots, two or three weeks ago, when we dared to say that your legislation was no good. What do we have today? After the Leader of the Opposition points out that the legislation is no good, the Government finally says, "Yes, we agree, but our Bill is better". So, you stick out your tongue and say, "There, we are going to get in first". Well done!
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