Page 531 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 1993
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MR CORNWELL: They have talked about it, indeed, Mr De Domenico, but what is the Follett Labor Government here really doing about unemployment? I would suggest that it is hindering rather than helping. Indeed, the evidence for that claim can be found in the Chief Minister's speech relating to the Government's priorities for 1993. Just listen to this list. It was delivered on 16 February 1993 to this Assembly. I do not intend to read it all, obviously; but I will paraphrase it into the various priority issues that Ms Follett announces her Government is about to pursue in the next 12 months. I will relate them to the number of jobs they will provide. First of all, we have here on page 1 new taxation measures to directly hit small business.
Mr De Domenico: How many jobs in that?
MR CORNWELL: No jobs. Turn to the next page; changes to the Gaming Machine Act.
Mr De Domenico: How many jobs?
MR CORNWELL: No jobs. There will be an independent health complaints unit.
Mr De Domenico: How many jobs?
MR CORNWELL: No jobs. Food legislation - no jobs. Health professionals regulations - no jobs. There will be the creation of - hang on, here we go - an environment commission.
Mr De Domenico: There is one.
MR CORNWELL: There is a job - one job. Protection of endangered plants and animals - no jobs. Boxing Control Bill - I would say probably loss of jobs, depending on how they draw it up, but certainly no foreseeable jobs. A register of education providers to overseas students - no jobs. Law reform - no jobs. Legislation to recognise the property and economic contribution of people in a domestic relationship - I do not think there are any jobs there. There will be an Act to prohibit age discrimination. There are no new jobs created in that, though it may enable people who do not wish to retire from jobs because they are too old under the present law at least to retain their jobs. It is something that we would welcome; but, again, there are no new jobs. The mental health law overhaul - no jobs there. The Adoption Bill - no jobs there. Points demerit system for bad drivers - no jobs.
There are 13 initiatives that Ms Follett's Government has proposed as priorities for 1993, and I have found one job. There is a great deal of regulation. The Labor Party loves regulation. They have, if I may quote Mr Connolly's word, an obsession with regulating people, and certainly they are pursuing that obsession in 1993 to the same extent that they did in 1992. We then move on, because the Chief Minister said:
The Government intends to sharpen its social justice focus during the year.
Mr De Domenico: What about the unemployed? Where is the social justice in being unemployed?
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