Page 3135 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 August 2012
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The consequence of this motion, were it to be successful, would be that the government would change and those opposite would seek to form a government, yet we have heard nothing, and we will continue—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, you are warned.
MR BARR: We will continue, I suspect, to hear nothing of what might be an alternative approach to government, because in the end, as we all know and the people of Canberra know, Tony Abbott’s man in Canberra, Zed Seselja, runs a negative and reactionary agenda. What little we know about his policy agenda we can glean from what is drawn from his policy inspirations. They would appear to be Sarah Palin of the Tea Party movement in the US, and BA Santamaria. It is a little bit of the Tea Party meets the National Civic Council. That is the policy agenda of the Leader of the Opposition. It is way out of step with the views of Canberrans—we all know that—and that is why he is hiding his policies and his views on the substantive issues of the day from the people of Canberra, and there are fewer than 60 days to go now before the vote.
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, you are warned.
MR BARR: The Chief Minister and this government have credibility in the community. This credibility comes from a strong record in delivering responsible government and it comes from having invested in the health services that this community needs, in the education services that this community needs, in the community services, the emergency services, the municipal services and the infrastructure that our community needs, and it is credibility that comes from overseeing an economy that is ranked second only to the mining boom state of Western Australia. We have record levels of employment in this community. Last month we saw the highest number of Canberrans in employment in the history of our city. That is a very proud record and one that we will continue to deliver on.
A lesson that the Leader of the Opposition might learn one day: the Chief Minister has credibility because that credibility comes from acting with dignity, from having the courage to front up and answer questions and to set out what she believes in.
Let us contrast that with the undignified record of those opposite. First, they had to pay back $10,000 worth of vouchers destined for needy Canberrans that were instead given to Liberal Party members. Second, there was their somewhat loose interpretation of proper process around the distribution of flyers and posters—and indeed the petulant fit we have seen from Mr Coe in relation to the Speaker in recent times.
Mr Coe interjecting—
MR BARR: Then we see in the last week—
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