1992 Assembly 1311
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Thursday, 7 May 1992 ASSEMBLY 1311 Thursday, 7 May 1992 Mr Kennett interjected. Ms KIRNER - I actually manage to listen occaSionally in the House, which is more than the Leader of the Opposition does because he does not The SPEAKER (Hon. Ken Coghill) took the chair at agree with the shadow Treasurer on most things. 10.34 a.m. and read the prayer. The Leader of the Opposition is smiling, but it is interesting that when this House debates things like the Auditor-General's report, the opposition QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE spokesman is missing from the House. Where is he now? I cannot see him! Perhaps he has gone to do another radio program to abuse people! Where is STATE ELECTION he? Here he is! Isn't that nice! Mr KENNEIT (Leader of the Opposition) - I Honourable members interjecting. refer the Premier to her often repeated claim of being a community-based politician and I ask: at The SPEAKER - Order! I warn the Leader of the what stage will she put the community's interests OppOSition. He is well aware of the provisions of ahead of her and the government's selfishness, Standing Orders. I expect him to observe the same sorts of standards in this House that he requires in incompetence and dishonesty in managing the meetings that he chairs. affairs of the community she claims to represent by immediately calling an election? Ms KIRNER - No doubt the shadow Treasurer Ms KIRNER (Premier) - I thank the Leader of was out practising his calculated abuse of individuals on the telephone. You would think the Opposition for his question and invite him to he wouldn't you? He lost the work with me to ensure that the policies and would learn, really, confidence of the business community of Victoria programs that are being developed to assist the when he attacked a reputable banker in this House people of Victoria move forward. We can build on the current economic indicators, which show that and in tenns -- there is some progress in the economy. Later today I Mr Kennett interjected. shall release the beginning of what will be a major youth policy statement for, I believe, the whole nation. That will build a real community concern Ms KIRNER - No, it is not a personal attack - into a real community answer. you ought to recognise them! In tenns of the issue of political morality, honourable members should look at the behaviour of the shadow Treasurer on the In fact, we are doing exactly the same thing with issue that has been addressed over the past 24 hours child-care, housing, police and emergency services and Priority Victoria, which the opposition is about in the media -- to pass after all its criticism. When the community makes its judgment at the election I will be pleased Mr E. R. Smith interjected. to be judged by the real community. The SPEAKER - Order! The honourable Mr McNAMARA (Leader of the National member for Glen Waverley is well aware of the Party) - I refer the Premier to the fraudulent provisions of Standing Orders. I ask him to respect the House. misrepresentation of the State's accounts and ask: how much longer will this government continue to Ms KIRNER - On the issue that has been corrupt the values, standards and requirements of addressed by the Leader of the National Party, it is its own affairs tha tit legisla tes for and expects and demands of the community? quite clear that the difference between the $1.2 billion deficit as shown in the Niemeyer statement and the Consolidated Fund and the $2 billion Ms KIRNER (Premier) -If there were any referred to in the Auditor-General's report is misuse of political morality, as has been suggested explained by the Leader of the National Party, I would have to by the inclusion in the Niemeyer statement of borrowings as receipts and the say it was perpetrated by the shadow Treasurer on repayment of borrowings as expenditure. Not only radio this morning. I listened to him this morning, as is that consistent with the Public Account Act, it is I have listened to him over the past few weeks -- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 1312 ASSEMBLY Thursday, 7 May 1992 also consistent with the way the reporting has been national agenda, as I intend to do at the Premiers done by previous governments, and indeed by Conference on Monday. governments across Australia that use proper accounting methods, including the Commonwealth The issue of teenagers' futures, not simply teenage and New South Wales governments. employment, should be occupying the minds of honourable members on both sides of the House. Honourable members interjecting. The paper I will put to the special Premiers Conference contains a number of key The SPEAKER - Order! I ask the Deputy Leader recommendations to tackle the issue. The first way of the Opposition to remain silent. I remind the to tackle the issue is to face up to the Leader of the National Party that he has asked his recommendations in the Cannichael report. Unless question and should allow the Premier to reply we face up to the issue of training wages, which the without interruption. report raises, and unless we can get both industry and unions to back the recommendations, there will Ms KIRNER - The opposition has engaged in an be no real prospect of change. orgy of abuse that reflects on the integrity of the public servants who are responsible for preparing The second issue we have to face up to is TAFE the reports, as well as on members of this House. funding. The Commonwealth has put an offer on the Mr Stockdale claimed on television last -- table to take over the major portion of the funding of colleges of TAFE. My government believes that is The SPEAKER - Order! The Premier should the right direction to take, and we are prepared to refer to the honourable member in the proper cooperate with the Commonwealth on that issue. manner. Priority Victoria shows that the government is prepared to play its role - from 1 July we will Ms KIRNER - The honourable member for create an additional 1000 TAFE places because the Brighton, the shadow Treasurer, claimed on TAFE sector is an essential part of the resolution, but television last night that the government has by itself that is not enough. On Monday, when falsified financial statements made to Parliament Victoria, the Premiers of the other States and, I hope, and to the public. There has been no such the Prime Minister put the issue of youth on the falsification. national agenda the next step in addressing the issue of youth employment and training will have been YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT addressed. Mr SEITZ (Keilor) - In light of the special It is interesting to contrast the work we have done Premiers Conference that is scheduled to take place and the determination we have shown on the issue next Monday, will the Premier advise the House with the attitude of the opposition. We have not what action the government is taking to address the heard the Leader of the Opposition say anything important issue of youth unemployment and to about youth since 1977 when, in a previous role, he improve opportunities for young people in Victoria? said that 75 per cent of the people then on the dole chose to be unemployed - and his solution to the Ms KIRNER (Premier) - The honourable problem was national service! member raises what is probably the most important question facing Australia; a matter that is often Honourable members interjecting. raised by honourable members on both sides of the House and one that must be addressed. Ms KIRNER - I do not know whether he still believes that because he does not have a current One has only to look across the Pacific Ocean at policy on youth issues. We do not know what his what happened in Los Angeles to realise what might policy is! I thought -- happen if Australia finishes up with an underclass of children in terms of their education and Mr Kennett interjected. employment. That was pointed out clearly by Geoff Barker in the Age on Tuesday, and I share that Ms KIRNER - You say you haven't changed! To concern. This morning I discussed that concern with everything you say you add that you haven't the American Secretary of Education. It is important changed. Let's hear your youth policy! that we in Australia put the issue of youth on the QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE Thursday, 7 May 1992 ASSEMBLY 1313 The previous Leader of the Opposition, the member for Glen Waverley. I have already honourable member for Gippsland West, offered a cautioned him and if he is unable to accept the law ray of hope -- and order that applies in this place I will act against him. The SPEAKER - Order! There is far too much audible conversation. Honourable members interjecting. Ms KIRNER - When the previous Leader of the Ms KIRNER - Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your Opposition set up his youth task force in 1989 he participation in question time; that is better than said that the task force would make the most most of us today. I think I detected just a slight energetic efforts ever made by the Uberal Party to difference in the views of honourable members involve elected representatives in giving Australia's opposite. Perhaps we should test it and find out. I young people a vision for the future. I do not know think I heard the Leader of the OppOSition say to me, who the members of the task force were and I do not "Call an election now".