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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 871 ..

Mr Berry: Forty-three per cent youth unemployment.

MR SPEAKER: Will you be quiet, Mr Berry.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, it is very interesting that Mr Berry cannot see anything good about 800 new full-time jobs in one month. Last year my Government brought down a budget that quite deliberately focused on restoring confidence in the Canberra economy and stimulating job growth. It is a matter of public record - - -

Opposition members interjected.

Mr Hird: I cannot hear, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Would you mind beginning the answer again, Chief Minister. I cannot hear for the noise.

MRS CARNELL: Yes, certainly, Mr Speaker. Last year my Government brought down a budget that quite deliberately focused on restoring confidence in the Canberra economy and stimulating job growth. It is a matter of public record that many members in this Assembly went out of their way to denigrate that approach. Just to refresh your memory, Mr Speaker - I am sure it does not need refreshing because you would remember - I will give a couple of examples. Mr Whitecross said, "This budget is not about jobs, as Mrs Carnell wants everyone to believe". Mr Moore said, "I believe there is an attempt to pull the wool over our eyes and the eyes of the Canberra community". Ms McRae said, "Claims about job creation could not be sustained". In the light of the job figures released today, I think members who made those comments will have to eat their words, probably along with the egg that is now stuck all over their faces.

The Government was not thrown off by this criticism. We were confident that jobs were and, indeed, still are the key issue for Canberra, in light of the massive cutbacks that were undertaken in the Commonwealth Public Service. I think the figures released today vindicate our approach in unashamedly seeking to stimulate new investment and jobs in the private sector. Since October last year - October was a very important month because that was the month after we brought down the budget - there has been significant improvement in the labour market in Canberra. It is very important to listen to these figures because it really does give us confidence in the future of Canberra.

Since October last year there have been 2,400 new jobs created, including 1,800 full-time jobs; the number of people unemployed has dropped by 2,000; and the unemployment rate dropped from 8.6 per cent to 7.4 per cent in March - lower than any State. In fact, the only entity lower than the ACT now is the Northern Territory. I will say it again for those opposite because I think it is a very important message, particularly as Mr Berry was attempting to make bad news out of this somehow: 2,400 new jobs have been created since the budget, including 800 new full-time jobs during the last month alone; yet Mr Berry went out and said that this was not good news for Canberra.

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