Page 611 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 21 March 1990
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MR SPEAKER: Order! Your time has expired Mr Whalan.
Debate (on motion by Mr Duby) adjourned.
VERY FAST TRAIN PROJECT
Debate resumed from 21 February 1990, on motion by Ms Follett:
That this Assembly calls on the Government to -
(1) encourage public support for the very fast train project;
(2) undertake specific studies on environmental and planning issues associated with the project; and
(3) make representations to the Commonwealth Government with a view to seeking a co-ordinated national approach to development of the project.
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (11.33): When the debate on this matter was adjourned a month ago, I had just reached my concluding remarks and I will complete them now.
In addressing this motion, I have listed the actions taken and the policies adopted by the Alliance Government since it came to office and clearly our attitude to the VFT project is one of positive support backed by positive action. In stark contrast, Labor members are displaying an attitude of political cynicism and that is just what we would have expected from them. They support it in principle when it is politically expedient to do so, but they duck for cover when it comes to even the faintest suggestion that they should actually put up some money.
If Ms Follett is serious about this project, she would be less concerned with political point scoring and concentrate her efforts on addressing the problems that her own party seems to have in coming to grips with the future economic development of this Territory. If her enthusiasm for the VFT is genuine, I would call upon her to join with us in a truly bipartisan approach to this project and then perhaps we can get on with the job of addressing the many genuine issues which need to be resolved before this major project can proceed. But of course, Mr Speaker, she first has to deliver all factions of the Labor Party.
In marked contradistinction to the political cream puffs in the Labor Opposition, the Alliance Government has made clear its commitment to the VFT project and for that reason, Mr Speaker, I move:
That all words after "Assembly" be omitted and the following substituted:
"commends the Government for -
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