Page 3208 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 19 August 2008
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It stands in marked contrast to the sort of policy spendathon—the “We have no capacity to pay for anything so we’ll promise the world” position—that is put by the Leader of the Opposition, an individual who has as his shadow Treasurer the most incompetent person in financial management ever to hold that position in this Assembly, a position that is endorsed by the former shadow Treasurer.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Just come back to the subject matter of the supplementary question. Order!
MR BARR: There would be no doubt, Mr Speaker, that in the history of shadow treasurers in this place the person who has shown persistently no ability—
MR SPEAKER: Order! The question was not about who was the best Treasurer in the place. Come back to the supplementary question or sit down.
MR BARR: He showed no ability to fund any commitments. Their position, in terms of any promises that are put in the 2008 election, cannot be trusted because they have no capacity to pay for them. The Leader of the Opposition has suggested in a question to me that the government cannot be trusted to deliver. Over its time in office this government has delivered consistently. It has delivered record amounts of investment—record amounts of investment in education—and has put a priority on quality in our system and on assisting those students in need. Be it through dedicated Koori preschools, early intervention and the range of programs that we have in the education portfolio aimed at assisting preschool aged children who need that additional assistance, this government has delivered the resources. It has the passion and the commitment to deliver in these important areas.
We have a once in a generation opportunity now with an ACT Labor government and a federal Labor government focused on early childhood education. In Maxine McKew we have a parliamentary secretary at the federal level who is devoting her entire time as a federal member of parliament to improving early childhood education. She is doing an outstanding job. We look forward, in partnership with the ACT government, to the implementation of a forward-thinking and progressive agenda for early childhood education. Our record stands in marked contrast to that of the rabble opposite. It is the same circus, just a different clown in charge.
Health—general practitioners
MS MacDONALD: My question is to Ms Gallagher, in her capacity as Minister for Health. Minister, could you update the Assembly on measures that the ACT government has taken—
Mr Pratt: The deputy minister for propaganda.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Pratt, order!
MS MacDONALD: Minister, could you update the Assembly on measures that the ACT government has taken over the last five years to support general practice health services in the ACT.
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