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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 12 Hansard (6 December) . . Page.. 3765 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

between Mr Beazley's comment and Mr Snowdon's comment and it is about time they apologised for it. You would have to think from what Mr Quinlan was saying that Canberra bashing is almost okay. Just because it is politics it is therefore okay.

We have tried to get people to move away from Canberra bashing. As Mr Humphries pointed out, people out there are starting to realise that Canberra is a city of 311,000 people with their own lifestyles and that, in fact, we are not responsible for the federal government, whether it be Liberal, Labor or whatever. Roads such as the Sutton Road, the Majura Road, Lanyon Drive, the road beyond Boboyan through to Adaminaby and even the Brindabella roads are roads that could be considered for this funding. Once we have got the guidelines from the federal government, we will be looking to make sure that we do spent it wisely, because it is important that these roads be upgraded and maintained as appropriate.

Mr Speaker, the important thing here is that we have an opportunity for the Assembly to say to the federal Labor Party in this case that it is not appropriate to threaten Canberra's funding and it is not appropriate to call any funding that comes to the ACT for the rural community - indeed, the surrounding community and the Canberra community at large - a sick joke. Those opposite should have said something before now. These statements were made last week, yet we have heard nothing from those opposite about what their efforts have been to stop their federal party denigrating our home, the city of Canberra.

Mr Speaker, it is a good motion. The whole issue of rural road safety is very important. As Mr Stefaniak pointed out, issues such as education, policing and enforcement are important, but getting the infrastructure right is just as important. This $20 million will go a long way towards doing good work on our rural road infrastructure. It will support the community. The Assembly should support this motion.

MR HIRD (3:35), in reply: I have just one thing to say, that is, that the bringing forward of this motion certainly touched a nerve opposite. I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to join the Chief Minister in writing to his counterpart federally. If he says that he will, I will sit down. Let him put his money where his mouth is.

I have already had my say in respect of this matter. I am shocked and horrified that the gentlemen opposite are not taking this matter seriously. It is about $20 million worth of funding to their constituency and I find them wanting on that. The tetchiness of those opposite makes me wonder whether they are fair dinkum about giving the people of this territory a fair go in respect of this roads program. I tend to think that they are not.

They are gutless and incapable of defending the rights of the citizens of this territory. Forget the politics: they just cannot defend the rights of the citizens of this territory. The fact is that both Chief Minister Carnell and Chief Minister Humphries have attacked their federal counterparts and, I might add, their state counterparts when they have picked on their constituency, that is, the residents of the ACT. I never thought that I would see the day that the people opposite would not stand up for the very people that elected them to this parliament. I commend the motion.

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