Page 6018 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 2010
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MR SMYTH: You always twist things. Your degree of touchiness is directly proportional to the degree of spin that you put on it. What China Southern Airlines said—I will speak slowly for you, Chief Minister, so you can listen instead of interject—is that they would like a dual approach, if necessary, from both the airport and the local tourism authorities so that they know there is commitment to making things happen, that it is not done in isolation and that it is coordinated. That is something, minister, you might like to talk to the airport about. I know that they are certainly interested in it. Tourism is an enormous industry for us.
Mr Stanhope: One phone call? That’s all it took?
MR SMYTH: Well, Jon, how many letters have you written, mate? Are you really that touchy? I will get you Bill’s phone number. I will get you the general manager’s phone number. If you are really that touchy about it, you should pay more attention. I walked past your office today and there it is, “Minister for Economic Development”. This is a bit of economic development. Andrew can explain the difference between micro and macro for you. But you should pay more attention. You are very touchy—
Mr Stanhope: Strongest economy in Australia. Lowest unemployment.
MR SMYTH: Which CommSec acknowledges, yes, and said that you were an economy that was insulated from the GFC, which does not explain why we have years of deficit.
Mr Stanhope: Strongest economy in Australia.
MR SMYTH: There we are; you are so touchy.
Mr Stanhope: Lowest unemployment. Lowest inflation.
MR SMYTH: Madam Deputy Speaker, can you offer any protection here, or is this a partisan speakership?
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, I have drawn Mr Stanhope’s attention to his interjecting.
MR SMYTH: It is an important issue and we appreciate the touchiness of the Chief Minister. We understand his failure to get anything like Constitution Avenue paid for, the Beijing torch relay paid for, money for a new convention centre, money for the centenary or the federal government to actually take him seriously and do something effective about protecting the eastern side of all Canberra. I will stand up here for Brindabella and Tuggeranong. Mr Seselja has stood up for central Canberra and Gungahlin. You have to understand the full depth of this problem.
Mr Barr: Not for Tuggeranong as well?
MR SMYTH: I just said Tuggeranong. It is not just confined to southern Tuggeranong.
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