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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3295 ..

MRS LITTLEWOOD (continuing):

In closing, Mr Speaker, if we are to achieve a"better society", then words about bipartisanship need to be more than just words; they need to be translated into action and give credit where it is due.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Carnell) adjourned.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

MR BERRY: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, are you aware that, as Chief Minister, your failed policies have had negative repercussions throughout the Canberra region? I point to the last week, when we saw 25 workers employed by the Pioneer building company based in Queanbeyan lose their jobs, 10 workers at the John James - - -

Mrs Carnell: They are in Queanbeyan, are they?

MR BERRY: Last week Mrs Carnell was concerned about the region. This week she is not so concerned. She does not care about the region if it is caused by her policies.

MR SPEAKER: The question did refer to the region, as I recall.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, 25 workers were formerly employed at the Pioneer building company based in Queanbeyan. They lost their jobs principally because of the depressed housing market in the ACT. Ten workers at the John James Private Hospital and 15 workers at Marymead have also lost their jobs. Will the Chief Minister apologise to the 50 workers formerly employed at these places who lost their jobs in the last week, due to her Government's failure to manage the ACT's economy and due to the actions of her preferred Prime Minister?

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I wonder whether Mr Berry would suggest that it would be my Government's fault for any jobs that are lost in New South Wales, or maybe Queensland or Victoria. Obviously, that is the case. In answer to this question, I think we need to look at what is the real situation with regard to jobs in Canberra. Mr Berry has indicated that some 50 jobs have been lost over the last couple of weeks; but he did not speak about the 6,100 additional jobs created in Canberra since last November, or the fact that there are 1,100 fewer unemployed people over that period. Compared with March 1995, when this Government took office, there are now 4,000 additional jobs in Canberra. There are 4,000 more now than when we took office, and at the same time the participation rate has increased. More people are actually in the work force as well, Mr Speaker. The participation rate has increased from 72.3 per cent to 73.1 per cent.

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