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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 538 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Again, Mr Speaker, there are probably ways that Mr Berry could have achieved this end; but, because he did not take the time, I believe - and it looks like it to us - that this Bill will end up in court. Ask any member of the Government what the No. 1 issue facing Canberra is. You would not know it in this place, I have to tell you, particularly over the last couple of weeks. What is the No. 1 issue facing Canberra right now? Ask anyone. It is jobs; it is broadening our economic base; again, as the Auditor-General said yesterday, it is sending out a message to the rest of Australia that this is a good place to do business, not just an expensive place to do business. It is sending out a message to those small to medium companies that we are currently talking to, trying to convince them to relocate to this city, that not only do we have a great environment and good business incentive programs but also the underlying legislation in this city is at least in line with that in other parts of the country. How in heaven's name do we send out the message that we desperately need to if we end up doing the sorts of things we are going to do here this morning? I ask all members of this Assembly to think very seriously about this. Are we talking about jobs? Are we talking about broadening the economic base? Are we talking about getting more people into the retail area or are we talking about legislating for more holidays?

Mr Speaker, I think this shows the Labor Party is so far out of touch that it is absolutely ridiculous. I think it is important that those opposite should have done their homework on this issue. They should have consulted, and, most importantly, members of the Assembly should have gone out and actually seen what happens on this holiday. Mr Moore made the point that it was important to encourage recreation. The reality is that very few people go. Of the 48,000 or 50,000 people who could be covered by this holiday, how many go to the picnic? In fact, a few thousand. The rest of those people are at work, and they have to be at work because the Public Service works; doctors work; everybody else works. The shops have to open. They are not getting recreational time at all.

Mr Moore: Just because they are not out at the picnic does not mean that they are not using the day off for recreational purposes. They might be in here watching the Assembly for their holiday. That is probably where they will be.

MRS CARNELL: Certainly, they are being paid double time and a half for the day, but they are not at the picnic. Mr Moore should check it out.

MR WOOD (12.06): Mr Speaker, there is an element of shame in this debate, and that shame is that it is the Government that should have introduced this Bill; it is the Government that should have been providing a lead in defending the workers in the ACT. It is to their shame that they have not done so. It is to Mr Berry's credit that he has brought this into the Assembly today. It is, as I expect, the majority of the Assembly who will be defending the rights of workers in this community.

It is the Government's job to represent all the people in the ACT. In this debate today they washed their hands of any recognition of, or responsibility for, a very large part of our population. It is the Government's responsibility to recognise and acknowledge the contribution of the working people in this city. That contribution is a very positive one. I have no doubt that, when the mathematics and the social considerations are added together, there is a net benefit to employers over the year because of this holiday.

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