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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (4 November) . . Page.. 3529 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

I accept that the Government is doing a pretty good job of directing things that happen in the city; but I have to tell you, Mr Speaker, that I do not approve every sign that goes up in this city. In fact, I do not approve any signs that go up. I can guarantee that any electoral information that is put together, either by my office or by the Liberal Party, will be appropriately authorised.

MR SPEAKER: I call whoever it is under that hat.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: It is I, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mrs Littlewood.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: My question is to the Chief Minister. Is the Chief Minister aware of reports over the last 24 hours that retail spending in the ACT is at a record high and that the ACT has recorded the strongest growth in job adverts in the country? Are these reports correct, and are they consistent with a strengthening economic recovery?

MRS CARNELL: On a day when, I suppose, most Australians like to have a punt on the horses, I am sure that most of us here would agree that we should not forget those in our community that are doing it particularly tough at the moment. Our city has been through a very difficult 18 months, and that is why my Government has made jobs our top priority over the last two budgets. But I am happy to say that, compared with Melbourne Cup day last year, when we were hitting the bottom of a recession brought on by Commonwealth spending cuts, today we are heading in the right direction. It is worth reflecting on how things have turned around since November 1996. At this time last year unemployment was peaking; new motor vehicle registrations were plummeting; job shedding by the Commonwealth was continuing unabated; and real estate prices were heading steadily downwards. Canberra punters may well have been forgiven for thinking that a bet on any of the Melbourne Cup runners was a safer bet than one on the immediate future of the national capital.

Mr Speaker, one year later and that situation has well and truly reversed. Indeed, those of us who had faith in the future of this city and put our money on a strong economic rebound are now seeing that faith well placed. Since November 1996 we have seen 6,000 new full-time jobs created in Canberra. That is a great result, Mr Speaker. But do you hear those opposite saying one thing that is not having a go at us or being negative? We have recorded 10 consecutive months of growth in new vehicle registrations. Do you hear any "That is really good for Canberra" from those opposite? No; none whatsoever. We have seen the strongest growth in retail sales in this country, with figures released yesterday showing a further growth of more than one per cent in trend terms during September. We are now seeing strong growth in job advertisements. Once again, figures released yesterday show growth in job advertisements of 2 per cent in trend terms during October - stronger than any other State, and an increase of 13 per cent on a year ago.

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