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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 1 Hansard (22 February) . . Page.. 213 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

with the same time last year. Mr Page said at that time that the results indicated the need for continued development of an economic and social environment conducive to business growth. We are not seeing that environment. What about the small business index issued by Yellow Pages? Their report concluded that confidence in the ACT is below the national average, that activity levels in the past quarter to November 1995 were subdued, with more businesses reporting decreases in sales and employment than increases, and, further, that there is a decline in capital expenditure. They are all matters that are being reported.

The people who talk to the Chief Minister and her deputy are saying that this town is absolutely in the doldrums. They probably use more descriptive terms, and they would be right. After one year of this Government we are in the doldrums. We are going nowhere. We could face a double whammy if the Federal Liberals are elected to government. I do not believe that that will be the case, but if they are it will be a double whammy and this place will go from merely being in the doldrums to a severe depression or worse.

The Government simply has to stop using words. We hear words, empty rhetoric, all the time. They have to start doing something. I remember that some six months or so ago - it might have been a bit longer - the Chief Minister, as though she was personally responsible, jumped up and down when the March 1995 quarter figures showed a fairly steep increase in population growth. I think it was 600 or so. She was very proud about that. Will she also take the same level of responsibility for the fact that our population now is quite static?

Mrs Carnell: It has not gone down, though. It has still kept that increase.

MR WOOD: It is static. Is it going up, Chief Minister?

Mrs Carnell: We maintained that increase.

MR WOOD: It is at the one level. It is a sign that people are not interested in coming to the ACT. If you look at the comparison between - - -

Mr De Domenico: It went down under you, though, Bill. Have a good look.

MR WOOD: No, it did not. You go and look at those figures. We have been having a continual increase in natural growth - that is, births over deaths is giving us an increase.

Mrs Carnell: Net migration loss.

MR WOOD: Over a number of months there has been a decrease in net migration. More people are leaving Canberra than are coming to Canberra - I think Mrs Carnell was saying this - and you ought to be asking yourself why that is.

Mrs Carnell: That is what happened under you.

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