Page 1218 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 1993
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MRS CARNELL: That is right; it is on the record. The Labor Government's record on financial management is about as good as Basil Fawlty's is at running Fawlty Towers - absolutely woeful. The asset base that the ACT inherited at self-government in 1989 was rather handsome. Not only that; the road system came to us debt free, and the public hospital system was almost as good in terms of debt. We inherited a stock of public housing valued at around $1 billion, with a debt of only $300m payable at an interest rate of 4.5 per cent over a number of years. We had it pretty good. Instead of raising the standard from that level, the Labor Government has taken us right back, so that now, when it is time to start receiving less Commonwealth funding, we are worse off than we were when we started.
Mr Lamont: Who wrote this?
Mr Wood: Time to start? We have been going there for four years, for heaven's sake. Where have you been?
MRS CARNELL: It is no wonder that they have nothing to say, except silly interjections. It is no wonder that you do not want to consult with the Canberra community. You do not have anything to tell them and you do not want the Canberra community to know just how bad it is. Perhaps I am wrong and I am judging the Government - - -
Mr Berry: Harshly.
MRS CARNELL: Harshly - before Rosemary declares her hand at the Premiers Conference in June. Perhaps Rosemary does have a strategic plan to make the Prime Minister take - - -
Mr Wood: Ms Follett.
Ms Ellis: The Chief Minister.
MRS CARNELL: Oh, do you want that? Okay, I will accept that. Perhaps Ms Follett does have a strategic plan to take to the Prime Minister. Perhaps she does intend to stand up for Canberra and really fight for the ACT like she has never done before. We can only hope that she does intend to take such firm actions when she gets there, because if she does not Canberrans will continue to have little to thank her for. Let us hope that this time Ms Follett will shed the smile and will get her hands dirty, and really will get involved in the hard work of government.
The Feds have to realise that Canberra is unique and does deserve extra looking after. People in the ACT have a fair proportion of their "grant" - I put that in inverted commas - spent on the upkeep of our showpiece city, such as the upkeep of our wonderful road system, the gardens, the museums, our art works, and in fact paying for security associated with the visits of eminent guests of the Commonwealth, such as, recently, the Turkish Minister. There needs to be a little more give than take in that department, and Ms Follett must take such concerns to the June meeting. She also needs to make sure that the Commonwealth is paying into our municipal account in a realistic manner for the upkeep of the amenity of Commonwealth buildings and the like. Certainly this Commonwealth Grants Commission report badly underestimates the extra expenditure that the ACT must go to to maintain a national capital.
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