Page 862 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
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For these reasons it makes sense for Canberra to remain the home of the Australian public sector. Jobs should not be forcibly relocated from Canberra. Canberra is unique in its neutrality and its ability to provide for and foster an efficient and experienced public sector. More than this, we need to maintain the jobs that exist in Canberra for the benefit of Canberran workers and their families. We need to protect investments in Canberra and our housing market. It took a long time for Canberra to recover from the nearly 30,000 Australian public service jobs cut by the Howard government in 1996-99.
I agree strongly that we need to continue to fight for and protect Canberra from the effects of the irresponsible decentralisation policies of the coalition government, which have so far proven to be inefficient, costly and completely unnecessary. As such, I strongly condemn the federal government’s policy of decentralisation.
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra) (3.59), in reply: First, let me thank my colleagues for their contributions today and for the commitment right across this chamber to stand up for public servants, to stand up for this city and to stand up for our community. It is rare that we have tripartisan agreement in this place, but I am very glad that we continue to agree on this important issue,
I will respond to two things in Miss Burch’s contribution. The NDIS being placed in Geelong was about creating jobs. The vast number of jobs there were created. I suggest she do her homework. I will agree that Senator Seselja used to fight for Canberra jobs. He did. I put it on the record; he did. I thank him especially for what he did in the Belconnen town centre when it looked like the Department of Immigration was going to be completely uprooted and moved to the airport. He did help there. I absolutely acknowledge that.
But it is also my duty to remind the Canberra community and this place that he has been silent in recent months as the federal coalition continues to steamroll this misguided policy. It is no wonder the community has been asking, “Where is Zed?” I am not going to dignify the grubby approach Miss Burch took at the end of her speech with a response, not least because it was completely inappropriate, irrelevant and outside the scope of the motion. There is a time and a place, and your lack of tact continues to surprise me.
I will continue to serve as a staunch advocate for the Canberra public servants who serve our country. We know that Canberra is the logical home of the Australian public service. It is the nation’s capital and the centre of public administration, and rightly so. It is surrounded by the knowledge and expertise of our vibrant private and tertiary sectors and filled with the knowledge and expertise garnered from decades upon decades of work within these departments.
I challenge politicians and policymakers to think bigger and to think better because we know there are many avenues to enlivening a community. As we have discussed today, Canberra is making waves in the private sector as innovative new businesses set up shop in the capital. We continue to encourage international investment while partnering with councils across the border to strengthen the capital region’s economic growth, encourage tourism and foster export opportunities.
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