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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1352 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

infrastructure to increase employment in the Tuggeranong Valley. Again, that is hardly sitting on your hands.

There is another thing Ms Macdonald forgot. I saw Mr Quinlan speaking to her about some of her blunders. During these problems, we had bipartisan support for the funding. Much of this happened in the lead-up to the election. At that time people were grateful that this occurred.

I have heard a lot of criticism of the Australian Liberal government, but I have not heard a single word of criticism about the New Zealand Labour government, their role and what they are going to do to fix the problem. In Ms MacDonald's summation, she might say a few words about Helen Clark. What happened there? Did federal Labor think to lobby New Zealand Labour? Did local Labor think to lobby Helen Clark for the New Zealand Labour government to include Ansett in their rescue package for Air New Zealand? I would be interested to find out whether the Labor Party talked to their colleagues, but I do not think I will get an answer.

The fifth paragraph in Ms MacDonald's motion calls on the Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism to report to the Assembly on what action is being taken to assist former Ansett employees and businesses in the ACT affected by the airline's collapse. I would be interested to hear what that is. We asked him questions about business policies today, and he did not seem to know the answers. The answer to yesterday's question was: "You will have to wait till next year." We are getting used to waiting till next year with this current government.

I have just been handed another press release that it would be useful to refer to. It is headed "Kendell Breakthough: Airline to Resume Canberra Flights". If you listen to Ms Macdonald, we were sitting on our hands. It just happened-$250,000 of ACT taxpayers' money suddenly found its way into the coffers of Kendell so they could do some marketing.

Ms MacDonald: Where are Hazelton now, Mr Smyth?

MR SMYTH: Ms Macdonald, I will table these press releases so you can read them. You need to check your facts before you come into this place and say the things you said. The press release reads:

Mr Humphries said the ACT Government offered the airline $250,000-the same amount provided to Hazelton Airlines last week to resume Sydney-Canberra flights-to help meet the costs of providing and marketing the services.

That is hardly sitting on your hands.

This is an important motion. From time to time big companies do go to the wall. I seek leave to table press releases headed "ACT Government's aviation and tourism package" and "Kendell Breakthrough: Airline to resume Canberra flights".

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