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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (2 December) . . Page.. 4249 ..

MRS LITTLEWOOD (continuing):

Parts of the report are simply incorrect. For example, paragraph 1.4 claims that the ACT economy is slowing. In fact, the economy is growing. A look at the most recent indicators shows: There have been two consecutive quarters of growth in the gross State product. The ACT has the strongest growth in retail spending of any Territory or State. The ANZ job advertisement data for October show the ACT recording the strongest growth of jobs advertised for any State or Territory. Over 6,000 jobs have been created in the past 12 months. I suggest, Mr Speaker, that that is not an indication of a slowing economy; but, rather, one that is on the move.

Other parts of the report convey an incorrect version of events. Mr Whitecross mentioned that I was concerned with political point-scoring. I suppose I could make the point that I think Mr Whitecross is somewhat obsessed with commercial-in-confidence, which again goes to show his lack of understanding of the business process. For example, in paragraph 1.3 BASAT was criticised for not providing vital information within reasonable timeframes. However, the report failed to point out that, apart from confidential matters - I emphasise "confidential" - all information was provided on time, to my knowledge. What the majority of the committee calls vital information was, in fact, confidential information which, by its very nature, could not be disclosed. Again, I go back to a failure to understand how business operates. Moreover, the seeming interest displayed by the majority of the committee in this confidential information was, I believe, purely a trawling exercise. I do not believe it was other than that. I may be wrong, but I do not believe so. Mr Whitecross mentioned that I was incorrect with regard to the information that was offered in confidence and was rejected. I suggest that that is not exactly the case, either.

Mr Whitecross mentioned recommendation 2, which is something that I am quite concerned about. It relates to cooperation between the Commonwealth, the ACT and New South Wales in developing a program. Putting it in simple terms, suggesting that is a bit like suggesting that the local hamburger joint go and have a chat with McDonald's and come up with a program to promote the sale of hamburgers. I know who would win out on that.

Mr Whitecross expresses concern about the regional aspect of things. As an observer of the H Division, he should know that this Government has done all it can about that. The Chief Minister gets together with all of the people in the region for quarterly regional meetings. In fact, the Chief Minister, on 7 November or thereabouts, attended the promotion of the region at the country embassy in Sydney. I think that is working pretty cooperatively with the region. We are pushing the region. But there are some aspects of it that we have to look at purely from a Canberra point of view, unfortunately, because of the relationship to jobs for our people in Canberra.

Reference is made in paragraph 4.3 and in section 5 to certain approved proposals not meeting the guidelines for assistance, thereby seeking to denigrate BASAT for not administering the BIS properly. However, the members of the committee pushing this line are being somewhat unfair because they know the details of the particular case in question and they also know that, although the guidelines were met, some information was withheld and that this matter is currently the subject of a police investigation. Accordingly, I dissociate myself from this part of the report. I must say, too, that that particular recipient, in giving evidence, did very little to impress me, I can assure you.

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