John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I have already indicated in answer to the member for Perth that I do not take at face value allegations that he puts to me. I will examine the situation. But what I do take at face value—and I am entitled to and the House is entitled to take it at face value—is the fact that in 1996 the unemployment rate in the Australian Capital Territory was 7.7 per cent and in 2006 it is 2.8 per cent. That means that thousands of men and women in the ACT have had the great freedom of choice of a job under this government.

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