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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (9 December) . . Page.. 5027 ..

MR QUINLAN: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. The government has had to fix a number of things such as Fujitsu, the V8 car race, Sverdrup, IBM Global Services, EDS, Ansett and Impulse.

Mr Hargreaves: Mr Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: the Leader of the Opposition was heard in silence. I ask him to hear Mr Quinlan in silence.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Proceed, Mr Quinlan. I uphold the point of order.

MR QUINLAN: Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. This government came to power with a fairly ignominious predecessor. There were a number of things to tidy up and they have been tidied up. Since then the government has moved on and has cleaned up and re-organised the tourism industry. It is now running successfully and has seasonal campaigns. It has been involved in a successful rugby world cup, which I compared earlier with what the previous government did in relation to the Olympics. That was just appalling. I just do not know how members opposite can hold up their heads.

We have set up small business development programs, the knowledge bank-192 firms have benefited from the knowledge bank-the Education Council, Partners Canberra and Screen Action. These are elements of a consistent, positive vision, as compared to a ramshackle, hipshot, photo opportunity. I like to think of those opposite as "crash through", "can do whatever"; but Cando didn't, Cando couldn't, Cando failed. This government has vision and is prepared to put forward a strategic vision for Canberra and its future.

I am pleased, in large part, that this has been roundly condemned today because I have occasionally, from that side of the chamber, heard my own words come back to me in economic matters. I am assuming that I will not hear any of my words coming back to me from this white paper, which will be refreshing. There will be naysaying and gainsaying, but no plagiarism, which will be a pleasant change.

The prime example of what the government is doing, consistent with its vision, is the NICTA development. Those opposite have talked about it, but was anything provided for its development in future budgets? No. "We'll say we're kind of interested"was about the best you could get at that time. This government has supported this development. It has negotiated through to the point where a very large slice is coming to Canberra. It promises to be the hub of a substantial cluster. This will be a fillip to the future of the ACT economy.

I have done a little research and got a sense of what is required for areas such as Canberra to grow, to parlay from their strengths. This plan sets that out. It does not have some number that the anal retentive can argue about and pick at-that is the breadth of their minds; I apologise for that. Just for once why don't members opposite open up and see the possibility of Canberra. The business sector does. Since the paper came down I have been to the exporter club of the Canberra Business Council. They were very happy to hear about the plan and thought it was consistent and a good idea.

At lunchtime today I opened a biotech development conference. The government are working with Biotech Australia and have provided it with an office cheek by jowl with

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