Page 3685 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 23 October 2013

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There is the continued good work by Brendan Smyth, the shadow treasurer. There is his dissection of a very poor budget and his continued enthusiasm for ESA, which seems to be just a distraction for the minister. Steve Doszpot had another win today—another backflip from the government through Mr Doszpot, the quiet achiever, a man who goes about his business getting results, a man who has restored Green Square, the man who saved the Shepherd Centre. And there is Mrs Dunne, who is proving to be a very high-quality, independent Speaker. I also commend my deputy, Mr Coe, for his work in his position as the deputy. It is great work he is doing on issues like light rail.

What I see on these benches is a unified, disciplined and effective team that is holding the government to account on issues like the jail, ACTEW, health, planning issues and the raft of local issues that we see as important and those opposite see as a distraction. We are building on the previous term, on the foundations that have been laid. Increasingly, when people look at the two teams, they look at the agendas. What they see is a mob opposite who are busy here today patting themselves on the back. What they see from this side is a team that is focused on the community, not on themselves.

I move:

Omit all words after “notes that:”, substitute:

“(a) the ACT Government has failed Canberrans across a range of service and infrastructure delivery projects over the last 12 years;

(b) the Government has been evasive with key reforms including school closures and tax reform; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) release key documents relating to its tax reform;

(b) apologise to ACT tax payers for multimillion dollar blow outs and delays across key infrastructure projects; and

MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (11.36): You would almost think that the Leader of the Opposition’s leadership of his party was under some question. Having begun his contribution lecturing people about self-congratulation, he then spent about a quarter of his speech—

Members interjecting—

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members, order!

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