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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (25 March) . . Page.. 875 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

$30,000 that was paid to Mr Knop for verbal advice over the phone. We cannot forget all of those financial disasters which have occurred in the ACT when we think of the difficulty of promoting the ACT. We cannot forget the big circus tent which has been erected over the Carnell Government. These are issues that have to be driven out of the minds of the ordinary people in the community if we are to be serious about promotion of the Territory and major events here. This sort of image has also permeated into nearby New South Wales. You have only to travel in New South Wales and talk to people there to measure the cynicism they feel about the performance of the ACT Government. This place is developing an awful reputation.

The epitome of the stunts that we may have pictured in our minds - we may have pictured them in nightmares - was the offer of the Chief Minister to climb the Parliament House flagpole naked to attract people to the ACT. I would not recommend that as a marketing strategy if I was an agency selling my wares in relation to those matters. It is not something that comes up well in my mind. It may have been said as a flippant, jovial thing, but for the leader of a government to say those sorts of things is a cause for worry. I am sure that other leaders around the country would not offer themselves in such a state for climbing flagpoles. I do not think they see themselves - - -

Mr Hird: How about going for swims in Lake Ginninderra?

MR BERRY: I am glad that you raised that, Mr Hird. Mr Hird talks about my concern over the filth and slime that have collected in Lake Ginninderra as a result of the inaction of this Government. That is just another area, Mr Hird. You would be better off bribing your Government to ensure that the standard of cleanliness in that lake is better, rather than criticising my attempts to draw it to the attention of the community. Mr Speaker, that is another example.

It is true that these major events are of benefit to the community. It is extremely important that they continue to be successes. But they are not the only problem. We have other major problems as well. But, most importantly, we have to maintain the image of the ACT as a place to do these things. That is a matter for the Government. It would be good to see the circus tent that they have erected over themselves dismantled and a bit of commonsense come back into the way that they present themselves in the scheme of governance in this country.

Mr Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to say a few words about this issue. I offer my congratulations to all of the people who have been involved in those successful events throughout the ACT. For those people, accolades should be forthcoming. There are many small business people and ordinary working people who work to make these events successful. Again, congratulations to them; but, mark my words, there is more to it than just major events. It is more than bread and circuses; it is about substance. We need substance from our Government. We need substance from our community leaders in the form of Ministers and the Executive to ensure that this place has the standing that it deserves in the Australian community. It is not just major events and stunts; it is about substance.

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