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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1461 ..

Ms Carnell: It is a nice idea, but we accept your ruling, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Thank you.

Mr Stanhope: She is still the real Treasurer, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: I am not concerned about that. I am concerned about where the question is addressed, and it happens to go to the Treasurer. The Treasurer, of course, is at liberty to flick it across to the Chief Minister if that is what he wishes. Mr Treasurer, are you prepared to answer the question or pass it to the Chief Minister? It is still a valid question.

Mr Humphries: I will pass it to the Chief Minister, Mr Speaker.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, those opposite have often said that I was responsible for everything, so I suppose it is very hard for them to argue with this one this time. Mr Speaker, I was very pleased to note the unemployment figure of 5.2 per cent brought down today for the ACT. That is lower than for any state in Australia and, I would have to say, is extremely good news for Canberra. In the last 12 months employment has grown in the ACT-

Mr Quinlan: I take a point of order. Let me say that the supplementary question and, particularly, the answer have absolutely no relevance to the original question asked by Mr Hird, which had to do with the statement by the Treasurer about $150 million. There is absolutely no relevance between the supplementary question and the question.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, speaking to the point of order: the question was with regard to the economic impact on the ACT and the issue that I am talking about-unemployment-is certainly to do with the economic situation in the ACT.

MR SPEAKER: I have to uphold the Chief Minister's point; I could not put it better myself.

Mr Quinlan: Can I record my dissent from that ruling, Mr Speaker?

MS CARNELL: We have noted it.

MR SPEAKER: It can be noted.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, for the life of me, I cannot understand why unemployment rates are not relevant to the economic situation in the ACT. Those opposite have said time and time again, and rightly so, that the whole issue here in the ACT is about jobs. We agree that it is about jobs. Is it not wonderful to note, and I cannot understand why those opposite do not want to hear it, that over the last 12 months employment has grown in the ACT by 5.4 per cent?

I do understand why Mr Quinlan does not want me to answer this supplementary question. He does not want me to answer it because he and Mr Stanhope have continually said that the reason that the ACT is going so well is that we are riding on the

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