Page 2398 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 31 July 2018

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MRS DUNNE: Chief Minister, does the CFMEU still have the capacity to threaten preselection of government members if they do not get what they want in the local jobs code?

MR BARR: Mrs Dunne, I am sure, would be aware that the Labor Party has a very democratic system of rank and file preselection.

Opposition members interjecting

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, I know we have had several weeks away from question time, but please control yourself.

MR BARR: Decisions on preselection for the Labor Party are made by the rank and file members of the Labor Party.

Opposition members interjecting

MADAM SPEAKER: Members of the opposition—

Mrs Dunne interjecting—

MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, side commentary—please leave it for after adjournment. Ms Cody, you have a question without notice.

Ms Cody: I certainly do.

Members interjecting

MADAM SPEAKER: Members! I am going to start warning folk soon. Ms Cody has the call.

Economy—performance

MS CODY: Thank you; I could barely hear you, Madam Speaker. My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, the most recent Deloitte Access Economics business outlook report describes Canberra’s economy as being “on a roll”. What do recent indicators say about the performance of our economy?

MR BARR: I thank Ms Cody for the question. We have seen a period of sustained economic growth for the territory. Our annual gross state product is expected to reach 4½ per cent in the 2017-18 fiscal year, following growth of 4.6 per cent in 2016-17. This means that the ACT’s economy is growing faster than that of any other Australian state or territory.

Commensurate with that economic growth has been a very strong result for the labour market. Employment has risen by almost three per cent, with 6,600 more jobs added during the 2017-18 fiscal year. Residential building approvals are up through the year. Our population is growing very strongly. People are coming here for work and we


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