Page 1642 - Week 08 - Thursday, 28 September 1989

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just refused outright; they refused absolutely. They are discourteous and they have had their chance.

MR JENSEN (3.10): Mr Speaker, I would just like to make a very brief comment on the remarks that have just been made by the Deputy Chief Minister. It was seen as appropriate to bring this matter on at this time because of an answer that the Deputy Chief Minister gave to this house the other day.

Mr Whalan: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; we are talking to the question of suspension of standing orders and it completely precludes discussion of the merits of the issue.

Motion (by Mr Kaine) agreed to:

That the question be now put.

MR SPEAKER: The question now is that standing orders be suspended.

Question resolved in the negative.

APPROPRIATION BILL 1989-90

Debate resumed from 26 September 1989, on motion by Ms Follett:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (3.11): Before responding to the Treasurer's budget speech, I would like to indicate that, although I had foreshadowed an amendment to the motion that the Treasurer moved on this issue, I have been persuaded not to proceed with that amendment. I have acceded to that request although I find it rather strange that in a new Assembly, where so many of us pretend to be trying to develop a different form of Assembly, when the chips are down we are constantly called back to the House of Representatives' rules and told that we cannot change the procedure. I do find it a little curious but I do indicate that I am not proceeding with the foreshadowed amendment that I put forward two days ago.

Mr Speaker, the Treasurer presented her 1989-90 budget to this Assembly on Tuesday, a budget which after detailed analysis could not, in honesty, be described as a complete or effective budget for the ACT. In the prevailing economic climate Australia-wide, and more specifically in the ACT, a total economic strategy is required, not a strategy that identifies easy, trendy issues to deal with, but a strategy that deals with the issues that for too long have been put in the too-hard basket by the Federal Labor Government and now by this Government. When will we see this Government take responsibility for its own financial folly, rather than hiding behind its lack of understanding


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