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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (8 December) . . Page.. 4003 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

We have not put all of our eggs in one basket as has been claimed by those opposite. What about Bishop Austrans, one of the most exciting projects that you could ever imagine - an automotive mass transit system? What about Sverdrup Technologies, Ansett, Modernfold, Pacific Noise and Vibration, CEA, Radpharm Scientific, all with business incentive grants by this Government? Guess what they are doing? They are creating a clever city, a knowledge-based economy. They are doing it because we are out there making it happen. Yes, we support business incentive grants. Those opposite do not. We do not know what they support.

Mr Quinlan: Good management.

MS CARNELL: Good management. How is Mr Quinlan going to produce a knowledge-based economy? I remember asking Mr Quinlan at one stage whether he believes we should directly fund research and development. He said yes. I am looking forward to having support from Mr Quinlan in the future on that basis. We do need to get behind research and development in Canberra, and that is what this Government is doing.

I would like to congratulate Mr Stefaniak. As we know, this term the ACT is trialling an approach that will mean that all Year 10 students will end up with an IT competency certificate. All of them will do the course next year, and by 2001 they will all have certificates in IT competency. This will be the first time not just in Australia but in the world. This is a proactive government doing exciting things, and they are paying off.

MR HIRD: My supplementary question is to the Chief Minister. I could not help noticing one of the good old boys opposite say that there was good management on this side of the house. I am overcome by the fact that one of the members opposite - - -

Mr Corbell: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. There should be no preamble to a supplementary question.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Do you want me to suspend the sitting? Behave yourselves, the whole lot of you. Ask your question, without preamble, Mr Hird.

MR HIRD: My supplementary question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, is this a good news story? Tell us, just for the old boys.

Mr Corbell: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question is hypothetical.

Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: The Chief Minister is not entitled to venture an opinion.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, yes.

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