Page 559 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 1993
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Federal Election
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.47), in reply: Madam Speaker, I rise to close the adjournment debate. We are facing the most important Federal election for many years. I think everybody here would know and understand that if there is an outcome which is headed up by Dr Hewson the Territory will be in deep trouble, as will the rest of Australia. The same will occur in this country as has occurred in Canada. We will have increased unemployment. We will have increasing bankruptcies, as occurred in Canada. The costs to small business will increase. Those horrid impacts are something that will divide Australia.
We also have to consider the impact of other policies which belong to the dreaded "frightpack", such as those relating to health and, in particular, industrial relations - the divisive formula cobbled together by Mr Howard, the fine detail of which has not been released for public scrutiny. The legislation has been kept a secret. I have already challenged Mr Howard to release his industrial relations legislation, which he claims he has drawn up, so that we can all have a look at what he is up to. If it is true, as he claims, that it is not quite drafted yet - that was an excuse he gave for not being able to release it - let us have a little look at his drafting instructions. The electorate ought to be able to demand that, because it is a crucial part of the "frightpack" package. It is intended to drive wages and working conditions down across this country, and it will drive them down, together with all of those other imposts which will arise from that package.
Madam Speaker, I am sure that Labor will win and that things will again be better; but we still have to do a job and to keep reminding the community out there that there is danger ahead and that they ought to beware.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 4.50 pm until Tuesday, 23 March 1993, at 2.30 pm
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