Page 3163 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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interests of our community. They have not convinced me or my colleagues.
The Labor Party, on the other hand, does have a clear agenda for Canberra, an agenda which we were implementing in government. It is an agenda which is based on caring for the people of Canberra. Our policies, Labor's policies, will maintain Canberra's lifestyle. We have been involving, and we will continue to involve, the people of Canberra. I admit, Mr Speaker, that ours is not a radical agenda. I do not support change for the sake of change. Change must have an objective, and our objective is to keep Canberra the great place it is.
Mr Speaker, the people of Canberra do not want a climate of uncertainty. They want a government which will provide stability and a clearly stated direction. It is time for the Liberal coalition Government to come clean on its policies, if indeed it has any. Their Government must have direction. It must have consistency. It must be united. We have not seen those characteristics yet.
In opposition, Mr Speaker, I will be leading a united Labor Party, a Labor Party with a clearly stated agenda for the people of Canberra. Our policy direction was made clear during our term in government, a direction which I set out again on 5 December. My Labor colleagues and I will be working for the people of Canberra and in close personal touch with them. We will be pursuing constructive opportunities in opposition, rather than merely reacting to Government proposals.
Mr Speaker, when I was Chief Minister I announced a detailed proposal for antidiscrimination legislation. It is my intention to introduce this legislation in the new year. Effective antidiscrimination arrangements are a crucial part of our social justice agenda. They are critical to the development of a fairer society. Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, marital status, parenthood, religious conviction, political belief or disability is not simply a social outrage; it is also an economic outrage. We simply cannot afford to have the abilities of large sections of our community ignored. It is a waste which has been condoned consistently by conservative groups in our community.
Mr Speaker, some time ago I indicated also my intention to introduce legislation to control the use of dangerous weapons. I intend to proceed with this legislation. The measure is particularly relevant at this time of year when we often see an increase in violent crime. We are lucky in Canberra that we have not developed as lawless a character as many other communities. We have, however, seen an increase in violent crime. This must be prevented and the most stringent control on the use of firearms must be put in place to protect our community. The proposals which I will put to this Assembly will provide for much stronger controls over the issuing of gun licences and will restrict
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