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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (25 May) . . Page.. 1804 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

There are references to the government, of course, and to the Carnell government. There is even one to a small "l" liberal government. But there is nothing that might lead to any connection to the Liberal Party, John Howard or any other Liberal from up the hill. In fact, at the Press Club yesterday, Mrs Carnell was at some pains to bag her prime ministerial colleague-the Prime Minister who does not live here, the Prime Minister who slashed and burned the public service and forced the ACT into recession, the Prime Minister who gave CHOGM to the ACT, albeit on the day of the last ACT election, and then snatched it away.

Stripped back to its basics, this budget is little more than an attempt to reinvent Mrs Carnell. That is why she bagged the Prime Minister. That is why the Treasurer focused so much of his rhetoric on an attack on Labor. It is interesting to reflect on why the government is so interested in distancing itself from its Liberal big brothers and on selling its budget through and attack on Labor. The answer is pretty obvious: this government-the Chief Minister and former Treasurer in particular-is under siege and its only response under attack is to lash out.

But Mrs Carnell cannot walk away from her association with the Prime Minister and the rest of the Liberal Party, no matter how much she might want to publicly disown them. Mrs Carnell cannot walk away from Hall/Kinlyside, the hospital implosion, Bruce Stadium or even the Ultimate Rock Symphony. She cannot walk away from the fact that she has little, if any, influence over her federal mates. She cannot walk away from her ringing endorsement of the GST. Now, just as John Howard says that his government is ready to focus on social policy, Mrs Carnell has adopted the mantra of John Howard and we have social capital. Once again, she has fallen in behind John Howard.

But this government's social capital is a condescending shame. Social capital is a scatter-gun and underresourced approach to what should be a fundamental priority in government. Social capital is a program of photo opportunities for a besieged Chief Minister. Social capital is a shallow political stunt designed to re-establish the Chief Minister's credibility following her rejection by the people of Canberra for her arrogant refusal to accept any responsibility for the Bruce Stadium fiasco or the tragic hospital implosion.

Mr Moore: It is not.

Mr Smyth: We got 10 per cent more votes than you.

MR STANHOPE: Mr Speaker, in many ways this is a budget of lost opportunities.

Mr Kaine: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: is it not customary to hear the Leader of the Opposition in silence in his response to the budget?

MR SPEAKER: Yes.

Mr Kaine: Would you bring the government to order, please.

Mr Smyth: Speaking to the point of order, Mr Speaker: the budget response normally refers to the budget.

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