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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 2494 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

I think he has been quite pathetic in his attitude towards Canberra. I know that Mrs Carnell claimed that he stays here just as often as he stays in Sydney; but that is not the point. There are a hell of a lot of meetings going on in Sydney that should be going on in Canberra, and that is having a detrimental effect on any number of small businesses in the Territory.

Mr Speaker, I think the Prime Minister's whole attitude towards the national capital has been quite disgraceful. I will remind the Liberals that, prior to the last election, this is the Prime Minister that they wanted. How angry so many Commonwealth public servants must have been when they saw the Prime Minister having the hide to go up to Newcastle when BHP announced that it was going to cut back a couple of thousand jobs up there by the turn of the century. This is the very same man who has cut back many times more jobs here in this economy, in this city, over a much shorter period of time.

Mr Speaker, there is no doubt that the Public Service is a very big factor in how our economy works. I think the one thing that has caused the problems that we are facing at the moment has been the attitude of this Federal Government. Mr Speaker, I would just like to remind Mrs Carnell and her people that this is the person they wanted in the job - this person who has treated Canberra with contempt and this Prime Minister who will not live in the Lodge. Mr Speaker, if his children were a little bit younger, there might be some weight to his argument. Perhaps I would sympathise a little bit with him. But the reality is that two of his three children are at university and one is close to leaving high school. So, Mr Speaker, I would encourage him to have a good look at himself in the mirror.

I will be supporting Mr Wood's motion first. It was Mr Wood's idea, and I will be supporting that. But, if Mr Moore's amendment has the numbers, then I will certainly be supporting that. I would also like to speak briefly about Mrs Littlewood's petition. I do not know whether I would be prepared to sign that, Mr Speaker, because I do not think it is hard enough. I think it is quite soft, actually, saying, "Please, Mr Prime Minister, I do not want to upset you, but could you consider maybe changing your mind and coming back to live in Canberra? But do not take it the wrong way". Mr Speaker, I would like to see that petition toughened up a bit. At the end of the day, you have to decide whether you are going to act in the best interests of your constituents or in the best interests of your party.

I have heard that there has been a little bit of criticism of our own senator, Margaret Reid. I think Margaret Reid is a wonderful lady; but, for the life of me, I do not know why she has not voted against some of the things that her Government has done to the Territory.

Mrs Littlewood: Were you at the PM for Canberra rally on Sunday, Mr Osborne? I was there.

MR OSBORNE: No. I was at home with my kids, actually.

Mr Speaker, I would encourage Senator Reid to perhaps be a little bit more vocal in her support for her constituents. As I said, I will be supporting Mr Wood's motion first; but, if Mr Moore does gazump him, then I will certainly be supporting his amendment wholeheartedly.

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