Page 4205 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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and say, "Should any business in the Tuggeranong Valley shut down because of our Government's policies, we will compensate them". Madam Speaker, if it is wrong to protect small local business in the Tuggeranong Valley, we are wrong. If it is red tape to protect small businesses in the Tuggeranong Valley, live on red tape. If it is anti-investment to deny the right of a Hong Kong conglomerate to put small retailers in Tuggeranong out of business, let us be anti-investment. When it comes to that, Madam Speaker, I will stand up and protect local businesses in the Tuggeranong Valley over any interstate or international giant.
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.15): Madam Speaker, I regard it as the absolute height of hypocrisy that in the last 24 hours we have seen five positions adopted by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Kaine, to his great embarrassment in the last 48 hours, had to try to stand up and to justify his leader's position at a general meeting of the Small Business Council last night.
Mrs Carnell: I did too.
MR LAMONT: Yes, Mrs Carnell, you also stood up and attempted to justify your position, and, may I say, you did very poorly.
Mrs Carnell: You were not there when I spoke.
MR LAMONT: Unfortunately, I had the misfortune to enter the meeting at the time of your dissertation. Yesterday morning on the ABC it was slash and burn; nothing in Tuggeranong at all; there will be no shopping allowed in Tuggeranong; let us stop everything; let us say to the people of Tuggeranong, "You go away".
Mrs Carnell: When?
MR LAMONT: Yesterday morning, Mrs Carnell, that was your position. What happened last night? After the meeting you got the quite clear drift that that was not acceptable. So, today, lo and behold, you were converted on the road to Damascus. Mr Kaine, your report of last night's meeting must have been very good, for what has happened? Today, Mrs Carnell has been converted. She has now adopted the Government's position and has attempted to run a stunt, through this MPI and her proposed motion, and to put up her hand and say now, "Me too; me too". Once again, you are exposed for what you are, Mrs Carnell.
MADAM SPEAKER: The time for the MPI has concluded.
Motion
MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition): I seek leave to move a motion concerning retailing in the Tuggeranong Valley.
Leave not granted.
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