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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 2004 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

Unfortunately, it does not appear that the Labor Party wants to admit that this liability is an issue. I think it is. I think it is one of the greatest issues facing this Territory because, as it says here, by the year 2015, on today's terms, our liability will be $2 billion. That is $700m more than our current budget, Mr Whitecross. That is not something to be frightened about. Fortunately, Mr Speaker, I do not look at today or tomorrow; I think about the future, unlike the Labor Party. I would like to think that when my children grow up they are not going to be left with this disgrace. Mr Speaker, I have raised the issue of superannuation every year because I do think it is a problem.

Mr Berry: And then voted for them. You said, "No; your budget is fine. You do not have to put it in. I would like you to put it in and you have not, but it is all right".

MR OSBORNE: If I do not vote for it, Mr Berry, you come back and it gets worse and worse.

Ms McRae: You did not make it any better last year. You could have put a condition on the budget.

MR OSBORNE: I did so, Ms McRae. I did make an issue of it last year.

Ms McRae: You could have put a condition on the budget, but you did not put a condition on it.

MR OSBORNE: I did make an issue of it last year. I did raise the issue last year, Ms McRae - and do not point your finger at me as if I am a schoolchild.

Ms McRae: I will.

MR OSBORNE: You are not back at school teaching little children.

Ms McRae: It is all talk. You did not put a condition on their budget.

MR OSBORNE: It is all talk. Mr Speaker, unfortunately an issue like this needs some people to make some brave decisions. I am very disappointed that it appears that the Labor Party does not want to acknowledge the problem. They want to stand up and make excuses for their incompetence. I think this is an issue that needs to be addressed more seriously by this Assembly. It is an issue that has the potential to create terrible problems in the future for us all. Unfortunately, it appears that until the Labor Party accepts that it is just going to get worse and worse.

MR BERRY (5.20): I am delighted, Mr Speaker, to acknowledge that Mr Osborne would support, as an answer to this problem, a scheme which reduced the benefits for workers.

Mr Osborne: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do not know that I said that at all when I spoke, Mr Berry.

Mr Whitecross: No; all you did was slag us off. You did not actually provide a solution.

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