Page 1786 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 4 June 2014

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That will be a challenge for this government and it will be a challenge for the private sector. But, interestingly, the 30-year long-run history of employment in this economy demonstrates that the private sector can and will take the opportunity to employ more people if we can restore confidence in the economy. At the moment the decisions that are emanating out of Capital Hill are driving down consumer confidence. Unfortunately, we are at a stage in this nation where consumer confidence appears to be highly partisan. When the previous Labor government was in office federally, coalition voters had very low levels of consumer confidence. We have seen a complete inversion of that now, with the change of government federally. Now it is Labor voters whose consumer confidence has crashed. But it would appear that the impacts of the federal budget have spilled over beyond just Labor voters’ view of the economy and are impacting more broadly, because consumer confidence has taken a massive dive.

What we intended to do yesterday, and what we will continue to do, is support this economy through that difficult period. We want to ensure that we do so and that we have the opportunity to encourage new growth.

Having said that, I want to move the amendment circulated in my name, which corrects some of the errors in Mr Smyth’s original motion. I hope it is something that everyone can support. I move:

Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:

“(1) notes the:

(a) growth in the number of private sector workers in the ACT since 2001;

(b) diversification of the ACT economy since 2001;

(d) ACT Government’s support for businesses in the ACT and the implementation of the Business Development Strategy;

(e) Commonwealth’s reduction of spending and employment, which will have a significant impact on private sector businesses in the ACT, and reduce employment by 2.9%; and

(f) continuing taxation reforms by the ACT Government, which are making taxes fairer, simpler and more efficient; and

(2) calls on the Government to continue its plan to support the ACT’s private sector, to encourage job growth and to diversify the ACT economy.”.

MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (5.29): The Greens have always agreed with Mr Smyth’s concept that the ACT economy needs to be broadened. I think the question has always been: what exactly does that look like and how is it to be achieved? I have heard Mr Smyth make this comment many, many times. I have heard Mr Seselja make it at various times, particularly in the last election. But I have never really been clear where that diversification is going to come from.

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