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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (7 May) . . Page.. 1045 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

Thirdly, the bankruptcy data is considered extremely volatile. For example, in the statistics for the previous quarter, bankruptcies in the Northern Territory increased by more than 100 per cent. My officials did some checking of their own and came back with the following data, which is a little more reliable as a picture of the real situation relating to business bankruptcies in Canberra. In February 1996, the number of insolvencies and terminations registered with the Australian Securities Commission in the ACT was 12. In February 1997, 12 months later, the figure had increased, but hardly dramatically, to 13. So we went from February 1996, with 12, to February 1997, with 13 - an increase of one in February this year over February last year. Over the same period, the number of new incorporations in the ACT increased from 108 in February last year to 137 in February this year - a fairly good indication that new business is coming to Canberra.

This Government does not pretend that it is not tough out there in business and for the general community in Canberra at the moment. It is tough, thanks to Commonwealth Government spending reductions. But, during the tough times as well as the good times, it is important to retain a sense of perspective and get all the facts straight, and the facts in this case indicate that ACT businesses are not going bust fast. In fact, more businesses are coming to Canberra than are going under.

MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, in question time yesterday you said, among other things:

... the TWU has set up a picket line on Acton Peninsula ... The reason that the picket line is in place is that it appears that the TWU do not like the fact that the Newcastle contractor hired local people who are members of the CFMEU ... this is a project that matters to this city ... We have to clear the site and we have a demarcation dispute between two unions.

Chief Minister, this morning in the Canberra Times your spokesman reiterated your claim that this issue was nothing more than a demarcation dispute between the CFMEU and the TWU. Do you still stick to that, Chief Minister?

Mrs Carnell: Is that the question?

MR BERRY: I have received two letters, one each from the Transport Workers Union and the CFMEU. In part, the Transport Workers Union says:

Firstly, the CFMEU and the TWU have no demarcation dispute -

gotcha! -

and in fact the CFMEU has endorsed the blockade as has the peak Union Body the Trades and Labour Council. For Mrs Carnell to say otherwise is a clear indication that she is oblivious to the facts and misleading the people of the ACT.

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