Page 3333 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 24 November 1992
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MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (3.46): One of the things that we will not be doing, of course, is holding up as images of what might occur in the ACT countries such as the Philippines, Taiwan and Korea which Mr Humphries so proudly proclaimed as our competitors and examples for Australians to follow.
Mr Kaine: He did not say that. In fact, he said the opposite.
MR BERRY: He then went on to say, of course, "Whilst I hold them up proudly as competitors, I do not want it to happen here". It is yes, no, no, yes, no, yes, yes, no, no, yes, yes, no, slow, fast. It is more of that stuff. That is the sort of attitude that these people take. They have to learn to be clear with the proposal that they are putting to the community. In fact, what they are proposing is exactly the same as what Kennett is doing in Victoria - that is, taking a chainsaw to the wages, working conditions and living standards of ordinary Australians. What they promote is that this should spread across - - -
Mr Kaine: I take a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Somebody jumped up a while ago and talked about relevance. The subject we are debating is the neglect by the Follett Labor Government of its industrial relations. We are not talking about Mr Kennett. We are not talking about New South Wales or about Western Australia. We are talking about the ACT and the Follett Labor Government. The Minister might be asked to remain relevant in his comments.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Berry, I would ask you to take note of those remarks.
MR BERRY: I have taken notice of them and - - -
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: And be guided by them, sir.
MR BERRY: I will not be guided by them, thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, because they are a load of old codswallop.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I will decide that.
MR BERRY: I am drawing attention to the comparisons that can be made between what this Government has done, continues to do and will do in relation to micro-economic reform and what is occurring in other places. We will not hold up as champions of the sorts of things that we would like to see happen in the ACT the countries which were mentioned by Mr Humphries, because we know what goes on there. They are places of oppression in many respects. We have seen them on the television.
Opposition members: Ha, ha!
MR BERRY: They are places of oppression. Why do you not travel to the Philippines and find out for yourself? Travel around. You would probably stay at the top end of town and would not see it.
Mr De Domenico: Have you been to the Philippines?
MR BERRY: My word, I have.
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