Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (29 August) . . Page.. 3603 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

but unfortunately it seems that the leadership of the Labor Party in particular wants to keep that model.

All the lies we have heard about wanting to fix up the public service, all the garbage and all the finger pointing have been exposed. I do not want to labour the point. When this legislation was being drafted, not once did I not think the Labor Party would support it. At no time did I think the Labor Party would not agree with a career public service.

Mr Moore: We are close to an election.

MR OSBORNE: We are close to election. There is a level of arrogance by some members of the Labor Party. We all know that they are ahead in the polls. We all assume they are going to be in government next time. Clearly they want to be able to appoint their mates to positions so that they can get yes-men, just as we have seen with the current regime.

It is sad that Mr Stanhope was prepared to say things publicly via the media but is not prepared to come into this place and defend them. He is the leader of the Labor Party-

Mr Moore: For the time being.

MR OSBORNE: For the time being, Mr Moore says. I expect Mr Stanhope to be the leader. He will probably be the next Chief Minister. I think he should come down and tell us why the Labor Party is not supporting this legislation, why he does not support a career public service and why he does not support amendments that the TLC and the different unions have told me personally they support. They support the amendments. They support the bill.

I want to thank those members who have risen to support the bill. I thank Ms Tucker. I think I want to thank Mr berry for attempting to work with us on this. I do not know what happens within the four walls of caucus, but all our meetings with Mr Berry's office were very positive, and I thought we were moving to some consensus, but clearly something is going on. One can only assume that what the media told me was correct. If that is the case, it is a sad day. It is a sad day when a significant piece of legislation like this is not being supported because of petty issues.

Mr Quinlan: It is junk, Ossie.

MR OSBORNE: It is not junk. Mr Quinlan interjects and says that it is junk. I have not heard a decent argument yet from the Labor Party. I will give you leave if you want to speak. Stand up and tell us why you do not support a career public service. Mr Quinlan says the bill is junk. Mr Quinlan, stand up and tell us why. I will sit down. I will give you leave if you want. Tell us why you do not support the bill. Reassure me that it is not that you think you are going to be the Treasurer next year and you want to be able to appoint one of your mates to give you advice and put yes-men around you. Tell us it is not true.

This is a disappointing day for this place and for the ACT public service. We had an opportunity here to fix the problems. We had an opportunity to give public servants a career path. We had an opportunity to have a public service which gives fearless and frank advice. Today has been a major disappointment because the legislation is going to

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .