Page 1095 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 2013
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achievements of the last 100 years through strong leadership, forward-looking policies and delivery of projects, that there is a growing recognition in our community and in our business sector and in our region that the future of Canberra’s prosperity will require strong leadership to drive linkages, partnerships, relationships, to continue to build a strong, sustainable and diverse ACT economy. I think other ministers have spoken around their portfolio areas on that. Certainly, the Chief Minister is taking the lead in respect of the connection in our region between Canberra and the broader area. That is very important for us.
Dr Bourke’s motion also recognises the need to continue to set strong policies on municipal services. As I have said, in the top 100 reasons why people like Canberra is the response that they like our high standard of living and quality of life. Dr Bourke’s motion also recognises the policy work that we have invested in economic development, in tax reform, in tertiary education, in school education and in our continued drive to make sure that every child, regardless of what school they attend or their background of advantage or disadvantage, has access to a quality education.
Dr Bourke’s motion recognises Canberra as a regional service centre. It recognises the importance of transport, to pay attention to climate change and have good, solid, strong public infrastructure. Proudly, we have a good track record of providing all the support we can to make sure that our IR laws and all our workers in the ACT have a safe work environment, because everyone deserves the right to get home safely. (Time expired.)
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (11.22): The motion that Dr Bourke has brought on today is certainly a catch-all motion that basically seeks to outline the government’s agenda over the next four years. As such I do not especially have a problem with it, inasmuch as it is broadly worded and it is generally in the right direction. Certainly many of the items outlined in Dr Bourke’s motion reflect matters addressed in the parliamentary agreement and the shared program that the Labor Party and the Greens have agreed to work on together.
Mr Hanson: Are they progressive enough?
MR RATTENBURY: Mr Hanson has already interjected, and I am 33 seconds into it. I did, of course, draw out Mr Hanson’s stump speech, the stump speech that we are clearly going to hear for most of this parliamentary term, about his dislike of progressives. I think many of us in this chamber are going to get fairly—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM ACTING SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!
MR RATTENBURY: bored with that speech because Mr Hanson, of course, as he has just interjected again, has decided to give his own definition of that and align it with extremism somehow. That is very interesting in light of quotes that have been made about the new leader in the Northern Territory, Adam Giles, who has been described as many things. He is certainly a leader who has taken the leadership in the most extraordinary political circumstances. To knife your boss while they are
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