Page 4746 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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The Chief Minister has imposed 2 per cent restraint cuts on her administration, but she has not done that consistently and she has not explained the rationale for it. This year in her budget she attempted to impose a heavy increase in diesel fuel obligations on citizens of the ACT in a way which in fact amounts to a form of taxation on heating fuel in this Territory which does not exist in other jurisdictions or does not exist on fuel of the same sort in this jurisdiction. It also amounts to a heavy impost on the capacity to create jobs. We have seen a massive rates rise under this Government - quite extraordinary and quite excessive rises in rates. Those sorts of problems - - -
Ms Follett: Not as massive as yours. What about the 16 per cent under the Liberals?
MR HUMPHRIES: I know that this is painful and I apologise for that; but, Madam Speaker, despite all those things I was prepared to give Ms Follett, the Chief Minister, a quite high mark. She does face enormous difficulties. After all, she has Wayne Berry in her Cabinet. I really cannot expect too much in the circumstances. I was prepared to give the Chief Minister and Treasurer a mark of seven out of 10 - until today. Today, Madam Speaker, I am afraid that she fluffed badly. Today she tabled her electoral legislation - legislation which causes a few problems in the ACT.
Mr De Domenico: The fraudulent electoral legislation.
MR HUMPHRIES: The fraudulent electoral legislation, Madam Speaker, which I am afraid did cost her quite a few marks on our polling. Ms Follett had a few things to say about that legislation before it came in. She said in May of last year:
... I consider myself bound by the terms of the referendum.
... ... ...
I can assure Ms Szuty that the terms that are provided for a system of rotation will certainly be adhered to.
On 23 June she said:
I accept absolutely the decision of the people of Canberra as to their preferred electoral system.
... ... ...
I will implement the decision of the people of Canberra.
Madam Speaker, I am sorry. Everybody who watches this debate knows, the media know, people interested in the electoral system know and I think at this stage the general public of the ACT also know that a swiftie is being pulled on us. A swiftie is being pulled on the community. Ms Follett is trying to get away with what she would never have dared to say to the ACT population before the election. Why did she not say to people before the referendum in 1992,
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