Page 2877 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
and I have spoken to the director-general of Health around that, particularly as we construct some of our new facilities. I think the opportunities there are significant.
With that amendment in mind, let me say that the government will be very happy to support the motion put forward by Ms Hunter today.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (5.37): Mr Speaker, I also have an amendment, but it might be better to deal with Ms Gallagher’s amendment and then I will decide whether it is necessary to move it or not.
MR SPEAKER: I think it will.
MRS DUNNE: I thank Ms Hunter for bringing this motion forward today. It is quite clear that on this topic there is an outbreak of furious agreement about the appropriateness and desirability of extending what has become known as social procurement. I am not sure that I am entirely comfortable with the terminology, but if that is the terminology that people wish to use I will go with it.
While the Canberra Liberals are highly supportive of the concept of social procurement, I must say that I am not entirely sure why Ms Hunter has brought on this motion today, considering, for instance, the discussion after question time yesterday in relation to social procurement and the progress that has been made in relation to this subject. Ms Gallagher has touched on the progress to date and the pilot programs. I am scratching my head a little as to why we are bringing this forward. I suppose that, while the ACT Greens say that the purpose of this motion is to give the government a little push along, and there may be some merit in that argument, in a sense this is the Greens looking for relevance and to have some ownership in this place. And why is that? I think it is because the Greens in the ACT, like their federal counterparts, think that they are the champions of social reform. I would hold that the Greens do not hold a monopoly on that one.
I am sure the Labor Party can speak for itself, but the Liberal Party is not one to ignore community values and expectations. We demonstrated this only this morning when I introduced a reform bill for penalties for criminal offences, to bring them into line with community values and expectations. The Liberal Party is not one to ignore the contribution that our community makes to our economy, our lifestyle and our wellbeing. We are not ones to ignore the expertise, innovative thought and creativity that exist in our community. We are not ones to ignore the community spirit that exists in our community—the social clubs, community-based organisations of all sorts, community services, volunteering and the like.
The Greens are not the only champions of community or social reform. In fact, it could be argued that the Greens are against social reform, because their policies are unable to deliver social outcomes. They are unable to deliver social outcomes because the Greens do not care what their policies cost or how they will be paid for by the community in the way of increased taxes, increased water and electricity charges, the withdrawal of funding for non-government schools, and unrealistic and unachievable targets for carbon emissions.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video