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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2743 ..

MRS CARNELL: I thank the member for the question.

Mr Moore: As accurate as could be expected.

MRS CARNELL: You could expect that, Mr Moore. It is worth recalling the prediction that was made by the Labor Party earlier this year, because it encapsulates the approach taken by the ALP ever since they have been in opposition. During his formal reply to the Territory budget in early May the previous Leader of the Opposition, the one of the three they have had in this term of government, had a few words to say. I will quote part of his comments. He said:

If the Carnell Government were not to change its policies, unemployment would hit 9.2 per cent in 1997-98, and employment would drop by 0.5 per cent.

He went on to say:

The key message was that more of the same from Kate Carnell would be bad news for Canberra. For Canberrans, the bad news arrived on our doorstep on Tuesday.

That was the day I brought down the budget. He went on:

We have more of the same.

This Government is used to that kind of approach from the Labor Party, and Mr Berry seems to be continuing the tradition brilliantly. After all, have they - - -

Mr Berry: Thank you.

MRS CARNELL: Of actually fibbing, yes. I am sorry; I will withdraw that, Mr Speaker. It could not possibly be the case! They are just getting it a bit wrong.

After all, have they said anything different at all in the 21/2 years they have been in opposition? The answer is no. Not once has the ALP come up with any new ideas in job creation or economic growth and not once have they got behind any initiative taken by this Government to boost the expansion of the private sector in Canberra; quite the opposite.

Mr Berry: The private hospital - what a good idea!

MRS CARNELL: Yes, what a good idea! Spot on, Mr Speaker. Let us accept for one moment that Mr Whitecross was somehow right and this Government had adopted a more-of-the-same approach in our budget. What has happened since then under our "Creating Jobs for Canberra" strategy? Since November 1996 there are now 7,200 more jobs in Canberra. The trend unemployment rate has dropped from 8.5 per cent to 7.2 per cent.

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