Page 471 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 17 February 2016
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meant a net reduction in ACT education funding. The decision to sign up to Gonski reduced the payments in SPP that were coming to the ACT by $30 million. It is important that we do not just throw out slogans and words but that we look at the underlying facts, the detail, the reality.
When it comes to the issue of light rail, I know that now the only federal politician on the Liberal side Mr Barr seems to like is Jamie Briggs. He is the only one that he regularly quotes. It seems that Jamie Briggs is Andrew Barr’s go-to man for economic advice. That probably explains why we have the biggest debt and deficit in the ACT’s history under this Treasurer—the greatest Treasurer in ACT history, but only on the metric of greatest ever debt and greatest ever deficit.
Quite clearly there is a difference in priorities. We have priorities focused on the people of Canberra, all of the people of Canberra. The Greens and the Labor Party in this place seem to be content to roll out a narrow agenda based on light rail, and their defence of it seems to be to attack a government in a different parliament rather than focus on the debate that is relevant in this place.
Maybe that is why, over recent days, we have seen debate led by the Labor Party on matters of penalty rates, which are in the federal government’s remit; on issues like same sex marriage, which are in the federal government’s remit; and on issues like euthanasia, which are in the federal government’s remit, a matter which is coming on later. It seems that the narrative from ACT Labor and the Greens is to attack the federal government rather than critique us. I take great comfort from the fact that this government and the Greens are unable to critique our agenda. It brings me great comfort.
The reality is, though, that when all is said and done, there is a difference in our priorities. I have outlined them today, and I have outlined a positive agenda. I have outlined a very positive agenda for all of the ACT, and I have outlined what my priorities are. I have also outlined a number of policies that we have already announced. We will continue to roll out policies to inform that agenda, to realise that agenda, should we be successful in October.
As I said before, there is a clear choice for the people of Canberra. It is us, the Liberal Party, that are focused across policies and priorities across all our suburbs, as I have outlined—fixing the health system, investing in education, growing our economy, building our city and leaving no-one behind. Or there are Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury, who will spend taxpayers’ money on a tram, who will continue to triple rates. The choice is as simple as this. It is our future for all Canberrans or it is the Barr government for only the favoured few.
Question put:
That Mr Barr’s amendment be agreed to.
The Assembly voted—
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