Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 4 Hansard (16 April) . . Page.. 916 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

We recognise that, if the ACT economy is to grow, we can no longer afford to be simply a one-company town, and we have to focus our efforts on making the ACT a much better place in which to do business. If the previous ACT Labor Government had put anything like the required effort into changing the focus of this town, we simply would not be placed in the position that we are now. But, unfortunately, they sat on their hands and did absolutely nothing to encourage business - except, of course, for one notable offshore TAB deal. I think, to paraphrase Paul Keating, the man responsible for the big budget deficits that the Federal Coalition Government now has to clean up, the Follett years in the ACT were the "Rip Van Winkle years" - the years when you did nothing and possibly just nodded off to sleep. They were years of lost opportunity for the ACT. It was evident to anybody that there would have to be, and there was, rationalisation going on at the Commonwealth public sector level. Those opposite were, I think, to say the least, a little uncomfortable. They should have been.

It seems that Mr Berry must have actually forgotten that the Follett Government spent $37.7m on redundancy payments - and how many people did that relate to? Over 1,000 people received redundancy payments under the Follett Government. In fact, it was 1,019, to be exact. So, all of the carrying on by those opposite is simply rubbish.

Members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is answering the question.

MRS CARNELL: This Government, though, has worked hard to encourage private sector investment in the ACT, to cut the apron strings of dependency; but every step of the way, Mr Speaker, we are thwarted by those opposite. They do not want us to get anything on track in this city. All they want to do is knock, knock, knock, whinge, whinge, whinge. That is what we see every day of the week. This Assembly has to take the bull by the horns here. We have to accept that there will be no extra jobs and there will probably be fewer jobs in the public sector in this town.

Mr Berry: You do not have to accept it.

MRS CARNELL: You did. You accepted 18,000 job reductions in the APS and did not make a comment.

Mr Berry: In fact, it grew.

MRS CARNELL: You accepted 1,019 redundancy payments and did not say a thing. The reality is, Mr Speaker, that all governments have to live within their means. That will mean that there will be fewer public sector jobs in this city, and that categorically means that this Assembly and this Government have to take the responsibility for creating jobs in the private sector. It is that simple.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .