Page 3525 - Week 11 - Thursday, 14 October 1993
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There are a number of essential elements of the paper which are complementary to the issues and views raised by some members of the Opposition. That we need to promote the employment base of the private sector in the ACT is one of the fundamental points recognised in the Chief Minister's paper and supported by the Opposition. There may be some argument about the basis upon which we do that. Mrs Carnell in particular has the view that if there is a problem you throw money at it; you spend more, spend more, or you tax less, tax less. That is the only argument coming forward from Mrs Carnell and some other members of the Opposition when issues such as this are on the table for debate.
Let us look at some of the fundamental issues of business development in the Australian Capital Territory. I suppose it could be said that we are not a resource rich Territory by any stretch of the imagination - - -
Mr Berry: They have you and me.
MR LAMONT: While it is rich in the intellectual property of people like you and me, Mr Berry, we do not own much land and, upon the little bit of land that we do own, there are not many resources. We need to rely on our light manufacturing industry, our clean manufacturing industry, our environmentally friendly manufacturing industry. I believe that we should continue to promote such industry in the Territory. Secondly, we should be looking to develop the intellectual resource which Canberra is becoming more and more renowned for not only in Australia but indeed around the world.
Again there are differences between the various parties within this Assembly about how we should do that, but I hope that over time we can convince the Opposition that the road that we have embarked upon and the principles and policies outlined in the ministerial statement are the best way to go for long-term sustainable business development in the ACT. I see that Mr Westende is sitting over the back raising his eyebrows. I am confident that in time we will be able to convince even you, Mr Westende. We may not be able to convince you that you should come to this side of the chamber, but I believe that I can convince you and the Government can convince you about the soundness of its business development policy in the ACT. As part of that policy the Chief Minister, at the request of the business community, will lead a trade delegation overseas in a fortnight's time. Much has been made about that mission, mostly by the Opposition to score cheap political points. They say, "Yes, we support such propositions", but they keep on trying to score cheap political points. The business community has rejected that approach adopted by only some members of the Opposition. There is a general view on the conservative side of politics in the ACT that the type of program which the Chief Minister has outlined and will be undertaking in this trade delegation is the way for the future. It is the way for us to sell both our intellectual property and our manufactures overseas.
Mr Deputy Speaker, there is one particular matter I wish to address this afternoon that will do more than anything else to prevent the ACT from taking advantage of the types of business development policies that the Chief Minister has outlined. I refer to action on the part of two monopolies of the Commonwealth Government. The first is the Civil Aviation Authority. The Civil Aviation Authority, some 12 to 18 months ago, announced that it would review the basis upon which the ACU - the air control unit - within its airports would operate.
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