Page 2446 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 August 2022

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employer, and I especially thank their Young Women’s Advisory Group, YWCA, where I first got to work with Minister Vassarotti, Women’s Liberation, Women’s Electoral Lobby, of which I was national convenor until my election to this place, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, and so many more.

I also particularly want to express my thanks to Marcia Williams, Tim Bavinton, Eva Cox and many other people whose leadership on this issue I have learned from over the years. The work to support a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body is something I will always feel honoured to have been part of, and will continue to do so. I am proud to support this motion.

It being 5 pm, the debate was interrupted pursuant to the order of the Assembly.

Appropriation Bill 2022-2023

[Cognate bill:

Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2022-2023]

Debate resumed from 2 August 2022, on motion by Mr Barr:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

MS LEE (Kurrajong—Leader of the Opposition) (5.00): Canberra is our nation’s capital city, a city of natural beauty, open spaces and spectacular scenery. We are the seat of Australia’s government and the home of Australia’s national landmarks. We are the bedrock of Australia’s public service, the cornerstone of Australia’s world-class universities, and the heart of an innovative, exciting private sector.

Most importantly, we are a city of clever, generous and aspirational people, which is why I think Canberra can be so much more. Canberra should be a city of opportunity—a city where anyone has the opportunity to buy or rent a home, start a business, access quality health care, and send their children to schools that bring out the best in every child; a city where we can enjoy well-maintained parks and community facilities, drive on roads free of potholes, easily access public transport, and live in safe neighbourhoods.

Given our circumstances, Canberrans should have the best of everything, and Canberra should be the best of everything. But the reality of what Canberrans are getting from this tired, out-of-touch Labor-Greens government is anything but the best.

We saw earlier this week a budget that does exactly what this Labor-Greens government always does—a budget that is big on spin, big on promises and big on announcements, but we know from past performance that this is a government that fails on delivery each and every time.

What we see is a Labor Party beholden to the Greens. Just this week a senior cabinet minister threatened to vote against an expenditure item in their own budget! This budget does not even enjoy the full support of this cabinet, let alone the Canberra community. This government is a financially, morally and socially bankrupt farce. This government is out of touch, out of ideas and out of energy.


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