Page 3376 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
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something that we should be thankful for. But it does not come without employing good people to do those important jobs.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Chief Minister, how does the movement of public service staff numbers compare to other jurisdictions?
MS GALLAGHER: I think when you look at the rise of the conservatives in state governments you see massive job losses, then in subsequent years employing people again. In those state governments which have sought the same approach that the federal government is now inflicting particularly across Canberra, you will see significant job reductions. One of our commitments at the last election was not to sack thousands of staff but to provide a stabilising influence, where we could, to maintain overall employment numbers and to grow our areas of priority. That is exactly what you are seeing now.
To some extent, as we can see our unemployment rate rise a little, there are many families across the ACT who are very thankful for the approach that the ACT government has taken, because the big player in town certainly is not doing that. I think it is important that we as the local government who live and breathe this city ensure that, with modest growth in key priority areas, we remain a good and stable employer in this town.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Chief Minister, has the need to provide front-line staff been compromised by the redirection of funds to employ expensive high-paid executives to plan for light rail?
MS GALLAGHER: We are employing people to plan for light rail, and we are employing good people to plan for light rail. It is important that this city-building project is actually resourced appropriately to deliver a good outcome for the Canberra community. We all know that you over there would like to see this project fail, and we know that you are campaigning on that, but we are going to deliver a very professional project with all the detailed work that needs to underpin good decision-making. That requires staff—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: There will be a range of decisions that are ongoing, Mr Hanson. It shows again your ignorance of this project. You can sit here and scoff and laugh. There will be a range of decisions that are taken throughout the life of this project and it is incredibly important that the ACT cabinet is provided with good, professional, high-level, quality advice. That is what we are getting from the Capital Metro Agency. I acknowledge Emma Thomas’s leadership of that agency and the work that has been achieved in her year serving the ACT community.
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