Mr BRENDAN O'CONNOR (Gorton) (10:31): I rise to speak to this motion. I do also acknowledge the fact that the member for Bass is moving the motion, for the very first time. Clearly he denied the opportunity for the members for Braddon and Lyons to speak on this, because he is aware that they have not given their first speech yet. It would have been, I think, more appropriate and more collegial if he had waited until next Monday to move this motion, because what he has done is to deny his own side's representatives in Tasmania the opportunity to speak on the Tasmanian economy. I would say to the members for Lyons and Braddon, 'Watch out for the member for Bass; obviously he is not what you would call a team player.' I have heard a few things already in this chamber in relation to this matter, but let us just go through some of the things that have actually happened rather than the speculation that has been articulated by those opposite. Firstly, it was Labor that put forward a $100 million jobs and growth plan for Tasmania, not the Liberals. It was Labor that invested in the $17 million North West and Northern Tasmania Innovation and Investment Fund. That fund leveraged millions of dollars, and not only sustained businesses across the state, particularly in the north and north-west, but allowed them to ensure that they could provide support for businesses in that area. It was Labor that actually— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Mitchell ): Order! Mr Nikolic: Mr Deputy Speaker, I ask if the member for Gorton would yield and tell me: which industries and businesses specifically have had a growth in jobs in Tasmania? The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Just to give you some advice, questions are only permitted on orders of the day. This is not an order of the day. An honourable member: You're an L-plater! The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Do not reflect on the chair. Member for Gorton, continue. Mr BRENDAN O'CONNOR: You have been in the place for a short time, and I give you that, but, really, you have had 10 minutes on this. You have denied your own Tasmanian colleagues, by not allowing it for next Monday, and you are actually now denying me the call because of your own inability to understand the standing orders. The fact is that the Tasmanian economy does have some challenges; there is no doubt about that. But it does not help when you talk down your own state's economy. What is really needed here is constructive proposals about how we can provide support for Tasmanians. I note that the motion that was authored by the member for Bass goes to a number of issues that I think are significant and genuine challenges for the Tasmanian people, one of which is the lowest proportion of adults in the nation who have obtained a year 12 qualification. That is a very serious matter that needs to be addressed. That seems to fly in the face of the recent comments by the Minister for Education and the Prime Minister to deny support to the Tasmanian education system to ensure we see an increase in the accreditation of year 12 students in Tasmania. The fact is there was the Gonski plan in place and a so-called 'unity ticket', as explained by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education prior to the last election, and they have reneged on that promise. They have completely and utterly contradicted what they said before the election. The facts are these. We have a Prime Minister who has lied to the Australian people. He has lied to the Australian people on education. I quote Phil Coorey today in the Australian Financial Review: 'Like a slippery lawyer— Mr Keenan: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It is a longstanding convention that we do not accuse each other of lying in this chamber. If the shadow minister wishes to do that, there are other forms in the House he can take advantage of. I call on him to withdraw. The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Mitchell ): Shadow minister? Mr Brendan O'Connor: I am happy to withdraw. As Phil Coorey said in the Australian Financial Review today: Like a slippery lawyer pointing to the fine print after the client had signed on the bottom line— Mr Tudge: Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. I do not know how this is relevant to the motion at hand in relation to the Tasmanian— The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Aston will resume his seat. The member for Gorton may continue. Mr BRENDAN O'CONNOR: Phil Coorey wrote: Like a slippery lawyer pointing to the fine print after the client had signed on the bottom line, the government is maintaining everyone else has got it wrong—the states, the journalists and a great deal of the education sector. The fact is that the Prime Minister has completely and utterly contradicted the commitments he made before the election on 7 September. That is going to hurt the Tasmanian economy. It is going to hurt every student in Tasmania and you should hang your heads in shame.