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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 4 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 1053 ..

MR SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is trying to answer your question, Mr Stanhope.

MS CARNELL: That is a very interesting comment, Mr Speaker. The approach that we have taken with women in our work force is to have a very real EEO approach. Mr Speaker, on a percentage basis, we now have more women in senior management positions in our ACT Public Service than those opposite ever dreamt of. The number of women in senior management has significantly increased. What about women on boards and committees, Mr Speaker? Under this Government, over 40 per cent of people on our boards and committees are women. That is the highest level in Australia - something that I am very proud of.

Let us look at what has actually happened in the ACT Public Service. Under this Government, more women are in higher management jobs and in higher positions of influence. More women are on boards and committees than under any other government in this country. Average weekly earnings for women are rising at a quicker rate than for men in our community. Most importantly, Mr Speaker, when you look at this side of the house - and, last time I checked, I was a woman - it appears that those on the other side of the house have a little bit of work to do.

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Urban Services. It refers to a question that I asked him yesterday and the answer that he gave. It had to do with a poll in connection with the slogan "Feel the Power of Canberra". Minister, in your response you said:

The survey apparently goes on to say that the majority of Canberrans did think that people outside Canberra would see it as an inducement to visit -

presumably, to visit Canberra. Later on, you said that the majority of people thought that it would be effective outside Canberra. Mr Speaker, the Minister suggested that I get hold of a copy of the survey. In fact, I already had a copy. In connection with those statements from the Minister, I quote from the poll. In connection with the specific question, "Do you believe that the `Feel the Power of Canberra' slogan gives people a positive impression of Canberra?", 84 per cent answered, "No". In connection with the question, "Do you believe the `Feel the Power of Canberra' slogan is likely to make people living outside of Canberra feel angry towards Canberra?", 81 per cent answered, "Yes". More specifically, Mr Speaker, people were asked whether they agreed with the following statement: "The feel the power of Canberra Campaign will probably help the Canberra tourism industry". This relates directly to the Minister's answer. Eighty-three per cent disagreed. Minister, when you made that statement, were you deliberately attempting to put a favourable spin on some very unfavourable results by misquoting the report, or were you setting yourself up for a reputation of having a very bad memory?

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