Page 1107 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 8 April 2008
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and the representations I have been able to make to say that the previous government simply and flatly refused to deal with the ACT government, even when people as significant as our previous Chief Minister and, indeed, the current Liberal senator were actually part of the group that sought the meeting to actually pursue issues around our centenary.
I have had the opportunity to meet and discuss these issues with the Prime Minister, the Treasurer, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Home Affairs. Indeed, I have met separately with the Deputy Prime Minister and the minister for innovation and science in just the last few weeks to talk about issues of significance to the ACT. I have made and continue to make representations.
Of course one has to acknowledge and accept that the federal government is facing a serious threat with the threat of inflation. The implications of runaway inflation are quite dire. And we see it already in the additional $370 which young Canberra families now pay on their mortgages. That is an incredible impost on young Canberra families, courtesy of the Liberal Party, that they are all paying an additional $370 a month. This is young Canberra families, with average mortgages, now paying an additional $370 a month. That is $370 a month that they cannot spend in any other way; it goes straight to their mortgage—$110,000 over the life of the mortgage.
That is the price that the people of Australia are paying for the Howard-Costello mismanagement of the ACT economy—the Liberal Party mismanagement. That is your legacy. That is your party. That is what you have done to young Canberra families trying to make their way in this community.
MRS DUNNE: Chief Minister, when will you stop your forelock tugging and your coat-tail love fest with the Rudd government and take a stand in support of ADFA?
MR STANHOPE: I have a history of expressing myself reasonably straightforwardly and forcefully. I have a history and habit—at times productive, at times less than productive—of speaking forcefully. I have done it for six years under a Liberal government, and I will do it for the next 12 years that I am Chief Minister under a Labor government.
Education—early childhood schools framework
MS PORTER: My question is to Ms Gallagher, in her capacity as Minister for Health, Minister for Children and Young People and Minister for Disability and Community Services. Minister, you and the minister for education today launched the early childhood schools framework. Could you provide details to the Assembly of what this framework means for future services provided to support families and children in the ACT?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Ms Porter for the question. These are certainly exciting times regarding the way we work with children and families, particularly in the delivery of the new early childhood schools. As a community, we are already recognising the importance of investing in all aspects of our children’s futures.
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