Page 35 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 16 February 1993
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MR DE DOMENICO (4.25): Madam Speaker, in the very brief time left to me, I would like to sum up what has been said. Ms Follett, the Chief Minister, said that people on this side of the house are prepared to knock, knock, knock.
Mr Moore: That was when you gave her a chance to talk.
MR DE DOMENICO: I will not listen to the tail that wags the dog on the right of me here. Ms Follett said nothing about the 10,900 people that are unemployed. She talked about all the people that are in jobs - that is fine; we applaud that; we want more and more people to remain in jobs - but she said nothing about the 10,900 people that are out of work.
Mr Lamont: And if you win on the 13th, there will be even more people unemployed.
MR DE DOMENICO: I take on that interjection. Let us look at the chances this Government did have. Ms Follett displayed to us that she knows nothing at all about business. Even Joe the blind miner would realise that the reason businesses are finding it so hard nowadays is the cost of employing people and the costs of business. Let us look at workers compensation, payroll tax, occupational health and safety, the industry training levy, the superannuation guarantee levy.
There are a few things this Government could have done to alleviate the impost on business. Last week - not so long ago - the Deputy Chief Minister, with great fanfare, held an enormous press conference, to which two people and a dog turned up, to talk about Worksafe Australia. He waxed lyrical, saying, "We want uniform occupational health and safety standards all over the country". They are fine words, excellent words, Mr Minister, but what did the Government do when it had a chance to implement that? It brought the number of people in a designated work group back to 10. What is it in New South Wales? It is 20. What is it in Queensland? It is 30. When the Minister says that he wants uniform standards, we applaud that. Minister, put your money where your mouth is. Actions are greater than words. You are in government. You have a chance to take action and put your money where your mouth is. But you have done nothing; you have sat on your hands, as the Chief Minister has sat on her hands.
The Chief Minister talked about high-tech industries. Does the Chief Minister realise that her Labor colleague, Mr Goss, and his Government are coming into Canberra, attempting to poach our high-tech industries?
Mr Lamont: The Liberals talking about a sound industrial relations policy!
Mr Berry: Bring the troops in. Would you bring the troops in?
MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Lamont knows that and Mr Berry knows that. Mr Goss is coming in, trying to poach our - - -
Mr Lamont: Will you bring the troops in?
MR DE DOMENICO: If we had to bring the troops in, Mr Lamont - not that we would ever need to - we would, yes.
Mr Lamont: You would?
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