Page 163 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2008
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We had a major media launch last year, and we will continue to encourage schools to be involved in the program.
Griffin legacy
MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Chief Minister. I refer to your recent comments reported on ABC radio on 6 February about the federal government’s decision to slash the budget for Griffin legacy infrastructure. I quote:
… those of us who can imagine the future of Canberra and … the continuance of the Griffin legacy … are of course devastated …
It’s additionally frustrating that the money … was appropriated in the last budget and it’s been dragged back out and it’s dreadfully disappointing.
In fact, I recall you at the Boat House praising the then federal government for putting that money in and saying it was a good idea. And yet, Chief Minister, it was your colleague Senator Lundy who led the charge for the federal government funding cuts to the NCA—the organisation she described as “bloated”. What discussions did the federal government or federal Labor figures have with you or your ministers about the cuts to the Griffin legacy before the decision was made?
MR STANHOPE: I thank Mr Stefaniak for the question. Indeed, I do not resile for one minute from the comments I made—an expression of my very deep regret and frustration at the cuts to the Griffin legacy, particularly the funding to Constitution Avenue and the implications for achieving that part of the vision. It has to be said Mr Stefaniak—and you invite this response—that the cuts are a direct response to the failures of the Liberal federal government to deal with the economy appropriately and prudently, and that has led to—
Mr Pratt: What are you going to do about it?
MR STANHOPE: How many interest rate rises are we up to in a row now?
Mrs Dunne: You didn’t think that in May; you thought it was wonderful.
Mr Pratt: You supported it in May. Everything was great in May.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition.
MR STANHOPE: There have been 11 successive interest rate rises. The Liberal Party scoff, laugh and chortle behind their hands at the implications of 11 straight interest rate rises for Canberra families.
Mr Pratt: A long way from your 17 per cent mate.
MR STANHOPE: Why did the Liberal Party in this place laugh, scoff and dismiss the efforts by the current federal government to rein in inflation? Because they could not give two hoots about the mortgage stress that 11 straight interest rate rises mean to the people of Canberra. Eleven straight interest rate rises under the Liberal Party—this was the legacy. This is the great Howard-Costello-Humphries legacy: enormous mortgage stress for young Canberra families.
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