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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1356 ..

MR PRATT (continuing):

The collapse of Ansett and the consequential collapses of Kendell, Hazelton and the call centre in Tuggeranong were far beyond the control of the ACT government and well beyond the control of the federal government. The Ansett collapse was an example of gross mismanagement on the part of Ansett. It had simply gone a bridge too far.

It was not due to the failings of the federal government or any state government or due to any policies pursued by this jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction. It was an internal matter based on decisions made by Ansett, based on decisions made by Air New Zealand and perhaps based on the silly idea that Ansett had in the first place to amalgamate with Air New Zealand.

Why can the Labor Party not see this? Why can the Labor Party not see that it would have been irresponsible for the federal government to dole out taxpayers' funds to bail out a sinking ship that was well and truly going down the gurgler.

Ms MacDonald should talk to her colleagues before getting up and having a crack. Before getting up and doing a Mark Latham, she should talk to her colleagues. Mr Quinlan, for example, had agreed to the rescue package organised by the then Liberal government.

Mr Quinlan: So it was bipartisan, was it?

MR PRATT: Correct. Absolutely right. You have just reinforced that point, Mr Quinlan. It was a bipartisan exercise. Why does Ms MacDonald not understand that?

This is a shallow motion. It is ill conceived. It is based on emotionalism. It is based on a lack of research. It is therefore unfair and it is not going to help those in Brindabella who have suffered. There must be more constructive ways in which we as an Assembly can get our act together and assist those who have suffered.

MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming and Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Corrections) (5.51): I am glad Mr Pratt has seen the light and that this is not the federal parliament.

Mr Pratt: I have seen the light.

MR QUINLAN: You have come a long way in a short time then. You are against the motion and Mr Smyth is for it. I guess this is a conscience issue on the part of the Liberal Party. Both Mr Smyth and Mr Pratt referred to Mark Latham, I dearly look forward to a debate between either of them and Mr Latham to see how they stump up. I think Mr Latham is one of the finest intellects in politics today. He has a huge-

Mr Smyth: The deformed man comment is a sterling example.

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