Page 1951 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 May 2009
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government services was microeconomic reform. That really goes to the heart of the failure of the Liberal Party, the failure of the shadow treasurer and of any of those opposite to understand even the most basic of economic concepts. With respect to the efficient delivery of services—and, in this town, government services are number one in the economy; they are the largest area of our economy—if we are not seeking efficiencies in government services, if we are not seeking microeconomic reform, and if this Assembly and the Liberal opposition cannot even stomach, as I said yesterday, the most micro of microeconomic reform—
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker: I ask for your ruling on whether or not Mr Barr’s comments are a reflection on yesterday’s vote, which would be disorderly and contrary to the standing orders.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please. There is no point of order, Mrs Dunne.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. As I was saying, yesterday was symbolic, and I indicated that in my contribution to the debate on that piece of legislation. If this Assembly is fair dinkum about reforming government service delivery then the sorts of decisions that were taken in relation to that do not exactly instil, and should not and would not instil, confidence in the Canberra community that this Assembly is up to the challenge of some more detailed—
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker: Mr Barr specifically referred to the decision made yesterday—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please.
Mrs Dunne: and he cannot reflect upon the debate.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Could you say that again, Mrs Dunne?
Mrs Dunne: Mr Barr specifically, in those comments just then, referred to the debate yesterday and the vote yesterday, and that is contrary to the standing orders.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Barr, if you could avoid reflecting on any vote taken yesterday in this place, thank you very much.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The issue, though, of microeconomic reform is one that has been the subject of some discussion in this chamber. It has been the subject of a number of press releases from the shadow treasurer where, again, he seeks to beat his hairy chest in relation to just how big and bold the Liberal Party will be on microeconomic reform. In this motion that we are debating today, we re-live the many debates we have had in this chamber about the significant microeconomic reform that occurred as part of the 2006-07 budget, yet Mr Smyth refers to it as a failure.
The question must be asked: what would the state of the territory’s budget be if the Liberal Party had had its way in 2006 and none of those reforms, none of which were
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