Page 4104 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 26 November 2014
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leading the nation in NAPLAN results and Canberrans twice as likely to hold postgraduate qualifications than other Australians. I am sure the Treasurer can wax lyrical about the growth he has driven through our economy and the strategy he put in place to make sure we have an economy fit for the second century that can weather the storms brought about in many ways by the abandonment of the ACT and the Canberra community by the federal Liberal Party.
I look forward to seeing our community supported by all sides of the political divide. When we see job cuts affecting our neighbours, our work colleagues and people we know and respect in our community, it is something each and every one of us should stand up against. I thank Ms Porter for bringing this motion to the Assembly. For the leader of the Canberra Liberals to describe this as a wally motion is simply expected but completely contemptible. This motion notes the underlying strength of the ACT economy and the strong prospects for long-term growth. I do not know what is wally-ish about that.
Mr Hanson: Point of order, Mr Assistant Speaker. I ask you to rule on whether it is out of order for Ms Burch to describe what I said as contemptible. Is it okay for her to describe what I have said as contemptible when you have ruled that I cannot describe a motion as being a wally motion? Perhaps with this new standard you are setting in the Assembly you could rule on her description of what I said as being contemptible.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Dr Bourke): There is no point of order, Mr Hanson.
MS BURCH: In closing, I thank Ms Porter for bringing this motion to the chamber, and I have no doubt it will be supported.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (4.57), in reply: I thank members for their valuable contributions to this important motion. It is good to hear all the wonderful initiatives this government has in place for the present and for the future to ensure the ACT economy remains strong and prosperous. These benefits will flow to ACT citizens.
In regard to Mr Smyth’s contribution, we see him following the usual line of deflecting attention from the federal Liberals and the coalition government, trotting out the now discredited three-word slogan about rates and generally talking the city down. The evidence is that this government is maintaining a strong economy while the Abbott government turns its back on the ACT. I will not grace Mr Hanson’s contribution and his extraordinarily personal attack on Ms Berry with any response.
As my colleagues have said today, the government is investing in four core areas: health, education, public transport and the resolution of the toxic Mr Fluffy saga. As the Abbott government makes cuts to health, this government has invested a record $1.4 billion in our health sector. This government has invested in record levels of funding in education by investing even more than last year in better schools and teachers and all the things Ms Burch has just mentioned.
The government is delivering on its vision by investing $735 million in capital infrastructure during 2014-15 and $2.5 billion over the next four years. This government will continue to do whatever it can to support the ACT economy during
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