Page 1499 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2007
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that are encompassed in international trade. The best way to break down barriers is to include people, to trade with them and to influence them by the way that we live, the things that we do and the things that we say.
I think it is incredibly important, particularly for the economic development of the ACT that we look for new markets. I remind this place that when we were last in office, we were involved with the Japanese. We were certainly involved in China. In 2001, Mr Moore led a delegation to Bangalore to talk to the business community there. We also had business delegations to South Africa. Unfortunately, those leads that we followed and the relationships that we established were not followed up by the incoming government. It has taken them six years to get to the point where they are again engaging with China on a regular basis, and that is welcome. But it is important to have continuity. In 2001, Mr Quinlan and I made a trip to Beijing to look at the university games and to extend the goodwill of one sister city to another.
That being said, it is great to see Canberra firms willing to have a go in China. It is acknowledged that it is a difficult market. I think the Chinese themselves would acknowledge that they are learning all the time. We can assist them by setting them an example through our business community. Indeed, they will assist us in our development through their needs and through the provision of students for our educational facilities.
But it should be on the record that when leadership was required the then Leader of the Opposition, Jon Stanhope, now Chief Minister, failed. He stayed out of the chamber. At least Mr Kaine, Mr Osborne and Ms Tucker actually had the courage to vote against it, as they saw fit. I think it is a great shame that the then Leader of the Opposition, now the Chief Minister of the ACT, did not have the courage to vote as he felt.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee
Membership
Motion (by Ms MacDonald) agreed to:
That Ms MacDonald be discharged from the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure for the period 29 June to 27 July 2007 and that Ms Porter be appointed in her place for that period.
Health—smoking
Debate resumed.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Minister for Health, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Disability and Community Services, Minister for Women) (4.34): I thank Ms Porter for bringing such an important health matter to the Assembly. Last Thursday was World No Tobacco Day. The government will support the amendment, and I will speak to it in my comments.
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