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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (13 May) . . Page.. 1265 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

alternative approach. There were things like watching briefs and there were strategies without any idea of where they were going, but there was absolutely nothing solid whatsoever. Even when Mr Whitecross spoke about $5m for jobs programs, of course he did not say where he was going to get the $5m or, for that matter, how he was going to spend it. He started his speech by talking about Access Economics but then proceeded to get some very unusual figures into his speech. Mr Whitecross's prediction of 9 per cent unemployment this year seems to be somewhat at odds with the 6.8 per cent that we have right now in Canberra. He did not offer any supporting documentation. It was just an off the top of the head approach.

Mr Whitecross went on to say that we needed a comprehensive strategic industry plan. I could not agree more. In fact, we had launched one a couple of days before. The Australian Capital Region Development Council launched their strategic plan, which as it says in the document builds on the ACT's strategic plan that was launched last year. Mr Speaker, I do not believe there is ever a definitive document in these areas. They always build on each other if they are any good. A couple of days ago, a regional economic development plan was put on the table; yet Mr Whitecross in his speech said that we need a new one. Heavens, he did not even know. That shows his capacity.

He went on to say that we need to build relations between the ACT Public Service and Canberra's higher education sector. Did he forget that the ACT Government last year made scholarships available to achieving public servants to do MBAs? The first one has actually finished. Harriet Elvin has finished her course. Guess what, Mr Speaker. She topped the course. That is a pretty impressive exercise. She is now doing some of the practical experience that goes with that, and she will be back with the ACT Public Service in the near future. We have now picked the second person to take that scholarship. In this budget we announced a $100,000 funding package for the new Centre of Urban Management at the University of Canberra. That was announced two days before Mr Whitecross gave his speech. Had he forgotten to read the budget when he put his speech together? That is the sort of interaction that you need in terms of cooperation between the ACT Public Service and our higher education sector - the stuff that actually produces outcomes.

Mr Whitecross went on to say that we need to target industry incentives at local businesses. We heard Mr Corbell making the same sort of comments reasonably eloquently. Unfortunately, the problem was that he was wrong. Of the 19 companies that have so far been assisted by the ACT business incentive scheme, by far the majority are local companies. Very few out-of-town companies have picked up the business incentive packages, although I have to tell you, Mr Speaker, that if we can get a state-of-the-art cheese packaging company in the ACT employing over 100 people, a company that is one of the stalwarts of this region, I will be very happy to say, "Thank you very much; we believe that is very appropriate". Not everyone can get jobs in IT, R and D, high-tech or advanced technology; so we have to make sure that our business base is balanced and that we have jobs in all areas, even possibly cheese packaging. This will be a state-of-the-art project which, if it happens, will be a tourist facility as well. It will give people an opportunity to see cheese being packed, to taste Bega cheese and to sample some of our local wines as well. I think that is a pretty exciting project. It is a pity Mr Corbell and Mr Whitecross do not think so.

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