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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (2 December) . . Page.. 4263 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

then I think he will be letting the ACT down. I believe that the transition to a more diversified business base is absolutely essential for the future of this city. Mr Berry obviously does not believe that.

Nobody in this place believes that the downsizing that the Federal Government has done over a very short period of time has been acceptable at all. I did not think the downsizing that happened under Paul Keating was acceptable at all either, Mr Speaker. The fact is that various Federal governments have been downsizing in the ACT for 15 years. Yes, the last 20 months have been tougher; there is no doubt about that. But the difference for us is that we are getting out there and we are creating a more diversified business base. The fact is that there are 6,100 more full-time jobs now than there were a year ago. The fact is that there are more jobs in Canberra now than there were when we came to government. I think that shows that the diversified business base that we believe is essential is the way to go, Mr Speaker. If Mr Berry wants to put the fate of Canberra in the hands of the Federal Government, I do not think too many Canberrans will agree with him.

MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question. So, Chief Minister, you think the transition which has come from the massive slashing of public servants by you and John Howard is a good thing. Why is it good for 30 per cent of families in the ACT to be living in poverty as a result of this transition that you say we had to have? Why is it good for Canberra families to depend on welfare to meet their basic needs as they are affected by this transition you said we had to have - the transition that comes from reducing the public service, which was effected by you and John Howard? Is this the fantastic achievement, to quote Senator Campbell, that your party wanted?

MR SPEAKER: There are inferences, imputations and hypotheticals within that question.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am happy to answer bits of that. I think it is tragic that Mr Berry would trivialise this issue; but still, that is fine, if that is what he wants to do. Mr Speaker, as I think all members of this Assembly saw, I was not terribly supportive of Senator Campbell's statements. That would be an understatement. Senator Campbell's statements were truly stupid, Mr Speaker, and it was good to see that in this case the Prime Minister jumped on him very quickly and we did get an apology.

Mr Berry: Keep it in the bag. Do not tell anybody.

MRS CARNELL: The comments were stupid. It is that simple. You cannot even look at them in any other way, Mr Speaker.

Mr Berry: "I told you to keep that quiet".

Mr Whitecross: That is right. Do not tell anybody.

Mr Humphries: Mr Speaker, it is very hard to hear the Chief Minister, even sitting next to her.

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