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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 13 Hansard (2 December) . . Page.. 4272 ..

Mr Whitecross: Mr Speaker - - -

MRS CARNELL: Sit down.

Mr Whitecross: If you are going to answer the question I will sit down.

Mr Berry: She wants your job, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is on her feet. As far as I am concerned, Chief Minister, you have answered the question.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, Ms McRae asked about the Bureau of Statistics figures.

Ms McRae: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I not only waved this but I actually referred to it in my question.

MRS CARNELL: You did not ask me to - - -

Ms McRae: If the Chief Minister would like to listen I will ask the question again and then perhaps this time - - -

MR SPEAKER: No; we already have the question.

Ms McRae: Perhaps she would like to answer it. Every single one of my statistics was from this, which does not confirm that we are in recession. Quite the contrary; it confirms that her policies were wrecking Canberra. That is the question I want her to answer.

MR SPEAKER: You are abusing standing orders, Ms McRae.

Ms McRae: Never, Mr Speaker. I would never abuse standing orders.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am happy to answer the question about our policies. In fact, yesterday I gave a major speech on our future direction, and on the achievements that we have made leading to where we are up to now. I referred to the sorts of things that have happened in Canberra, such as the 6,100 new full-time jobs over the last 12 months - more jobs now than when we came to office, Mr Speaker. I think for 12 months now we have had increases in motor vehicle sales or registrations in the ACT.

Mr Corbell: Rising unemployment trend; negative gross State product.

MR SPEAKER: I warn you, Mr Corbell.

MRS CARNELL: Thank you. The figures that came out today on retail sales are up again. Last month they were the highest in Australia, but they are still going up today. Building approvals are starting to go up again. There have been two consecutive quarters of growth. Population is back in the positive direction now. In fact, on the last figures

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