Page 1992 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 May 2009
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between $60 billion and $70 billion. And it is in that environment that governments must grapple with the circumstance.
That is why it is so important that the alternative government or alternative Chief Minister outlines tomorrow what he and his colleagues, his government, would do in these circumstances. Would they do as Mr Barr has just pointed out? Would they do as Mr Seselja has just indicated and actually increase, as Mr Seselja proposes, expenditure? Or, as Mrs Dunne, proposes, not to raise any taxes or charges? Or, as Mr Coe suggests, actually reduce the deficit more quickly?
If that is the view of the Liberal Party, if seven years is too long, faced with the situation we face today with our seven-year plan, what is the length of the Liberal party’s plan? Is it a two-year plan, a three-year plan, a five-year plan or a seven-year plan? If it is that seven years is too long, how many years would you propose that the territory come out of the deficit? How many years? And what would the bottom line and the shock of your short program be? Answer these questions.
Do not criticise a seven-year plan without telling us how long your plan of recovery is. Is it a three-year plan? And what are the implications of your four-year plan for your savings case? We have identified a $153 million savings target. What would yours be if you halved the time?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Stanhope, I think you have made the point. It would be good if you came back to the question.
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is, of course, a point that we will make repeatedly over the next months. Indeed, our response to the alternative budget will be delivered tomorrow. As I was saying, there has been very strong—
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: this seems to be a running pattern. People take points of order, you make rulings and the Chief Minister seems to ignore them. The Chief Minister can make the political debating point at any time but you have actually called him on relevance in relation to the answer to the question. So I would submit that he cannot do it in question time.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, I was giving Mr Stanhope the chance to get going again. I am sure he will immediately come to the actual question he was asked.
MR STANHOPE: I was back on track, until the paragon here actually interrupted—the paragon of virtue of the standing orders—and took another point of order.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Stanhope, please get to the question.
MR STANHOPE: As I was saying, there has been strong community support for this budget. Catherine Carter, a known wine and cheese night pinko leftie, has commented on this budget that it is a budget which will provide a direct economic stimulus into the territory as well as potential environmental benefits. She went on to say:
… we are pleased the ACT Government has taken some positive steps to safeguard the Territory’s economy …
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