Page 2271 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 June 2013
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again, she follows the Andrew Barr line: if you have not got something sensible to say, you just go the slur. But the IPA, whether you like it or not, is a reasonably well-respected think tank on matters economic.
Mr Coe: The oldest in the world.
MR SMYTH: As Mr Coe points out, it is, in fact, the oldest in the world. So there we go. But let us get to my motion. This is a motion about, in effect, dishonesty. This is a motion about a government that say one thing and does another thing. This is about a government that failed in the lead-up to the election to disclose job and service cuts in their election promises. This is a government, through their lack of honesty, that assured Canberrans their election promises were fully funded, but now we find they are not. And this is about the failure of a Labor government, a Gallagher Labor government following on from a Stanhope Labor government, that have not managed the ACT budget in a sustainable manner and that are budgeting for deficits. Indeed, they have budgeted for deficits I think in 10 out of their 12 budgets. They have had some surpluses, but their process has always been to budget for deficits.
This is about the government’s inability to deliver important projects on time and on budget, which include but are not limited to the Gungahlin Drive extension, the fabulous north Weston pond courtesy of Mr Corbell, the hospital car park—$29 million to $45 million—the blowout in the emergency services headquarters budget, and, of course, the shining icon of capital works delivery, the Cotter Dam.
Of course, this all comes in the context of a Treasurer who was unwilling to debate the opposition publicly, who made demands, who blackmailed business groups and said, “We will not—
Dr Bourke: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order. Mr Smyth, resume your seat. Dr Bourke.
MR SMYTH: Could we stop the clock?
MADAM SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please.
Dr Bourke: Madam Speaker, Mr Smyth has been using unparliamentary language to describe Mr Barr. I ask him to withdraw, please.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Sorry, Dr Bourke, I really did not hear what you said.
Dr Bourke: Well, if they keep on interjecting, what do you expect?
MADAM SPEAKER: No, I cannot hear your voice. Could you—
Dr Bourke: Madam Speaker—
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