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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 07 Hansard (Tuesday, 29 June 2004) . . Page.. 2917 ..

Local policy issues, such as the introduction of controversial industrial manslaughter legislation and occupational health and safety laws, had also impacted on expectations for the September quarter.

Mr Peters from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is quoted as saying:

For over six years we’ve had conditions that are positive—

Mr Quinlan: No credibility left mate. He’s not there anymore.

MR SMYTH: Beg your pardon, Mr Treasurer?

Mr Quinlan: There is no credibility left with Mr Peters and he’s biased, mate. Gone.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

MR SMYTH: I hope Hansard got the Treasurer saying there is no credibility left in Mr Peters and he is biased.

Mr Quinlan: Do you notice he is falling out of the media?

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order!

MR SMYTH: Oh, he is falling out of the media. This is interesting. The Chief Minister was all over Mr Peters yesterday and wanted Mr Peters to stand next to him at the podium. Is that why you were not doing the press releases and the media stunt, Mr Treasurer?

Mr Quinlan: I don’t want Mr Peters standing up next to me, mate, thanks.

MR SMYTH: The Treasurer does not want to be seen standing up next to Mr Peters. I hope Hansard picked that up as well.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, please! Come on; get on with the debate.

MR SMYTH: Let me quote Mr Peters. The Chief Minister was quite happy to quote parts of Mr Peters’s statement. It is interesting to note the division that is appearing between the Treasurer and the Chief Minister over this. I want to read the statistics. Mr Peters said:

For over six years we’ve had conditions that are positive, but for the past two quarters we’ve had a situation where confidence is flat.

What two quarters would those be? They would be the quarters since the Treasurer launched his very glossy white paper, the paper with no substance. They would be the quarters in which we have seen the industrial manslaughter legislation put in place. They would be the two quarters in which we have seen the occupational health and safety legislation put in place. Lo and behold, after six years of positive conditions, confidence has been flat for the two quarters in which the government’s real industrial relations regime was revealed.

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