Page 721 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 17 March 2015
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We will have to be bold. We will have to make a range of decisions in order to continue economic growth and jobs growth in our community, and we are prepared to make those decisions. I will continue to bring legislation to this Assembly in order to achieve those ends because it is important. It is important for continued job opportunities and continued economic growth for Canberra.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Chief Minister, what responsibility does your government take for the 14,500 jobs cut by the federal Labor government when Kevin Rudd took, as he said, “a meat axe” to the federal public service?
MR BARR: I did not sit in that cabinet room.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members! I think Mr Barr did not get two or three seconds into his answer. I think he should be heard in relative silence.
MR BARR: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It might have escaped the Leader of the Opposition, but I did not sit in those cabinets and was not responsible for those decisions. I cannot take responsibility for decisions of other governments. What I can do is take responsibility for what we do in response. What I can do is be very clear about what responsibilities and what actions we will take and compare and contrast those with the alternative in this place, which is where we have responsibility. That comparison is important for the community to understand.
This morning we heard Mr Smyth say we spend too much. Therefore, the shadow Treasurer has highlighted that a Liberal government would be in the business of cutting.
Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker—
MR BARR: That is what those opposite are wanting to run away from.
MADAM SPEAKER: Have you got a point of order, Mr Hanson?
Mr Hanson: On a point of order—
MADAM SPEAKER: Stop the clock, please.
Mr Hanson: My question was directly related to the 14,500 jobs cut by the Labor Party, not to some fanciful jobs that he thinks are going to be cut by a Liberal Party sometime in the future. I would ask him to address the 14,500 jobs cut by the federal Labor Party and not try and distract from those 14,500 jobs that were cut by Labor.
Mr Corbell: On the point of order.
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