Page 4266 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994

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MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (9.59): I think it is important to say, surprisingly, that we are supporting the Symonston development. What I think needs to be questioned is the statement by the Chief Minister, in an attempt to sell the proposal in March, when she launched it - - -

Mr Lamont: That at least 25 businesses will be attracted to the ACT - a conservative estimate.

MRS CARNELL: That 25 manufacturers will be attracted to the ACT.

Mr Berry: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The motion before the chamber is: That the report be noted. There are lots of little paragraphs in the report that you might refer to and argue against or support, if that is what you want to do; but in terms of having the motion passed which notes the paper it would be a far more economic use of our time if members stuck to the report before the Assembly.

MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Carnell, I am sure that you will note that.

MRS CARNELL: I certainly will. Again, I say that we support the process totally. What we do not support is incorrect information being given. We know that the Chief Minister said that it would attract 25 manufacturers to the ACT and generate up to 500 jobs among the manufacturers and up to 300 more in service industries. We heard the Chief Minister say in this debate - so I am referring to this debate - that in reality what she is talking about is one to two manufacturers who may be attracted to the ACT each year. I do not think it is all right, I do not think it is okay, to tell people things that are not the total truth. What we are talking about is one to two. Maybe the Chief Minister neglected to tell the press conference that it was going to take 25 years to attract the 25 manufacturers. The exercise is a good idea; but it is not all right to give the wrong information, or information that is not the total truth, just as it is not all right for those on the opposite side of the house to continue to misrepresent the pharmacy dispute of 1989.

Mr Berry: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I know that Mrs Carnell knows everything about these matters, but relevance would help.

MRS CARNELL: I am just as relevant on this as Mr Lamont and Ms Follett were.

MADAM SPEAKER: Mrs Carnell, the motion before us is: That the report be noted. Would you proceed, please.

MRS CARNELL: Thank you very much. It is not all right to make comments in this house that are not the total truth.

Mr Berry: She is taking no notice of you, Madam Speaker.

MRS CARNELL: It is about this motion. It is what he said about this motion. Are you saying that he was not - - -


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