Page 26 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 16 February 1993
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MS FOLLETT: You are out there, rolling out the cliched hyperbole we have just heard from Mr Westende, which is enough to depress anybody, even me.
Mr De Domenico: What have you done?
MS FOLLETT: I would like to say to Mr Westende that to suggest that my Government has wasted opportunities is simply to ignore the many achievements we have made in the year since the last election. We have implemented measures that I believe ensure continued economic security in the ACT. We have continued to work on - - -
Mr De Domenico: What are those measures? What have you done? How many jobs have you created?
MS FOLLETT: Mr Deputy Speaker, is this man to be allowed to continue?
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Westende was heard in relative quiet. I ask that the same courtesy be extended to the Chief Minister.
MS FOLLETT: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. We have continued measures which will ensure the economic security of the ACT. We have not taken the drastic, radical solutions that members opposite espouse. We have taken a much more cautious and caring approach. At a time when many Australians are feeling the effects of the recession - which is a world recession; let us not forget that - we have worked towards ensuring that Canberrans enjoy a high standard of living.
If members opposite cared to think about it, they would realise that in the ACT we have created an environment which is conducive to overseas and high technology industries. We have seen the number of people employed in the ACT increase dramatically over the past 12 months - as I have said, by over 8 per cent. Furthermore, we will continue to attract new investment to the ACT in the scientific and research and development fields through ventures such as the cooperative research centres.
In the ACT small business has been and will continue to be assisted in a variety of ways, not the least of which is the newly established small business incubation centre at Kingston. We have ensured that our policies create an atmosphere of economic security for the ACT, and we will continue to place a high priority on progressing social justice issues in the community. I have told members what are the three planks of my particular vision. I have already mentioned today that the Government will be introducing an overall social justice budget statement either this year or next year. That statement will assist in understanding the social impact and the equity implications of all government programs.
I remind members that Mr Westende addressed his remarks purely and solely to business. There are more issues in the ACT community. There are issues that go well into the social justice arena, which, having heard Mr Westende speak, I do not expect he would be very interested in. The Government has also released a youth budget, which highlights a statistical overview of young people in 1992-93. It is important that we continue to gather information on what makes up our community in order that we can best assist those people and best target our programs.
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