Page 2272 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 June 2013
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MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, now the microphone is on.
Dr Bourke: Mr Smyth has been using unparliamentary language to describe Mr Barr. I ask that you request him to withdraw.
MADAM SPEAKER: Could you enlighten me as to what the unparliamentary language is?
Dr Bourke: He accused Mr Barr of blackmail.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, could you withdraw the assertion that Mr Barr blackmailed.
MR SMYTH: I withdraw. It is now apparent that the Treasurer told certain business groups that he would not appear if the opposition were invited. So you work out what that is and make your own conclusions. We now have two groups who have had longstanding functions—the chamber of commerce cocktails and the Canberra Business Council—
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, Mr Hanson. Mr Smyth has the floor.
MR SMYTH: budget breakfast—changed because the Treasurer refused to attend if the opposition were invited. So there you go.
Of course, this motion is about the government’s failure to diversify the ACT economy after more than 12 years in government. It asks the Assembly to condemn the government for their failures after their 12 consecutive budgets, for their failure to be honest with Canberrans about protected jobs and service cuts, about their failure to deliver vital infrastructure on time and within budget and their failure to put the ACT in a firm financial position.
I am sure Mr Rattenbury will agree with this motion because, as we heard him say in his last speech on the previous motion, we have to stop living on the credit card. And we agree with you, Mr Rattenbury—we have to stop living on the credit card. So it will be interesting to see whether Mr Rattenbury actually believed what he said in the last debate and backs it up in this debate with his vote.
What have we got in this budget? Well, to quote the CPSU, those well-known friends of the Liberal Party, this is a budget full of weasel words and blank statements. What did Vince McDevitt say last night? Weasel words and blank statements. That is the vision according to the CPSU. And even the CPSU said the budget is light on detail. Now, remember when the Chief Minister rose to the throne and assumed the crown—she said this was the new era of openness and accountability. What has that era of openness and accountability delivered? Weasel words, blank statements and light on detail. So there we have it.
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