Page 2199 - Week 08 - Thursday, 10 September 1992
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GOVERNMENT'S REACTION TO PUBLIC CRITICISM
Discussion of Matter of Public Importance
MADAM SPEAKER: I have received letters from Mrs Carnell, Mr Cornwell, Mr De Domenico, Mr Humphries, Mr Kaine, Mr Westende and Mr Stevenson proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, I have determined that the matter proposed by Mrs Carnell be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
The ACT Labor Government's abnormal tendency to suspect and mistrust others as exemplified by its reaction to public criticism.
MRS CARNELL (3.16): Madam Speaker, the editorial in today's Canberra Times says it all. This ACT Labor Government, without a doubt, has an abnormal tendency to suspect and mistrust practically everyone. Let us look at some examples. There are a number of areas where this Opposition has led the way and the Government has reacted in an almost neurotic fashion - for example, on methadone, on land tax, on Hare-Clark and, of course, on the technopolis. This hypersensitive Labor Government has obviously decided that nothing being put forward by the Opposition will be treated on its merits.
Mr Berry: A very sensitive government.
MRS CARNELL: Mr Berry says, "Very sensible". That is very interesting. We see Mr Berry going to unusual lengths to avoid the sensible methadone distribution system in place in other States. He wants to avoid it because he sees some opposition leadership in this matter. Of course, he cannot do anything that might give the Opposition some credit, so he goes to unusual lengths to reinvent the wheel and bring forward his own proposals - may I say that it is the only time he brings forward any of his own proposals - even when these proposals are not the ones put forward by his own department.
These are the reactionary games played by this Labor Government. It is amazing how quickly Mr Berry can take action when he is prodded by the Liberal Party. We are still waiting for action on "scheduling by reference" legislation which would bring our drug laws into line with NHMRC recommendations and would save ACT residents substantial amounts of money on a particular anti-histamine at this hay fever time of the year. Actually, chemists in this case would make less money, Mr Berry. The public would be saving money. We are still waiting for action on mental health reform. We have been waiting a very long time for that. We are still waiting for action in a whole range of areas.
So it is amazing what happens when we bring forward proposals to improve the ACT methadone program. Mr Berry's whole motivation seems to be his obsession with not letting any credit flow to the Liberal Party - or to anybody else, for that matter. The same thing could be said of the Chief Minister when it comes to land tax. Madam Speaker, I suggest that Mr Berry and Ms Follett should stop playing silly political games and start to think about the legislation and policy direction that the people of Canberra so desperately need. That means being able to accept suggestions, even when they come from other quarters and not from the Labor Government. The public even might have some ideas.
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