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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1192 ..

MR DE DOMENICO (continuing):

Mr Speaker, let us not forget that, since Labor took office federally back in 1983, 18,000 Commonwealth Public Service jobs have been shed. Even in today's Canberra Times - in a bigger article than Sunday's, Mr Berry - statistics released by the Department of Finance show that more than 5,000 - - -

Mr Humphries: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is impossible to hear what Mr De Domenico is saying, even though I am sitting right beside him. I would ask for a little bit of control of those opposite.

MR SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Speaker, let us not forget that, since Labor took office federally back in 1983, 18,000 - I repeat, 18,000 - Commonwealth Public Service jobs have been shed. Even in today's Canberra Times, statistics released by the Department of Finance show that more than 5,500 Commonwealth public servants were made redundant last year alone. That was under Labor, Mr Berry - not under the Liberal Party; under Labor.

Mr Speaker, further cuts seem likely under the Howard Government. With this in mind, the Carnell Government has some choices. We could stick our heads in the sand and pretend that it is business as usual, or we could rant and rave and achieve absolutely nothing - like those sitting opposite me. Mr Speaker, this Government, however, chooses to see the positives and the great opportunities ahead for Canberra. We recognise that it is time to build on what is already a vibrant business sector and we are putting in place mechanisms to ensure the future of Canberrans. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that through a range of initiatives the private sector grows in this uncertain economic climate.

Only two weeks ago I announced a major review of the Government's Business Services Centre, which is critical in ensuring that small business support services are focused on further developing the entrepreneurial culture of the ACT and the region. This new style Business Services Centre will provide a wide range of business resources and business services and will also see the Government go out in the real world as such and talk with those in small business. Mr Speaker, the Government is also helping the private sector through initiatives such as CanTrade, the ACT business incentive scheme and the Red Tape Task Force. We have also committed over $5m in funding to encourage and further develop Canberra's private sector. Mr Speaker, it is a pity that the Opposition fails to acknowledge this. They laugh and they talk about doom and gloom but will not acknowledge reality. We must remember that Mr Berry in fact is a product of the Left. His traditional support base relies on private sector investment for jobs but does not mind squeezing employers for higher pay. That is what Mr Berry is all about. Little wonder the Follett Government created only 700 jobs in its last year, compared with 2,300 jobs created in just one year of this Government's present term.

I would ask that those opposite, whilst listening to this answer, give some thought to ACT workers - including the CFMEU members, Mr Whitecross - who rely on economic growth and development for a living and who are benefited by these newly created jobs. These people are not benefited by devaluing the ACT's economic outlook but rather are keen for the Government to proceed with projects like the Kingston foreshore

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