Page 1154 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 August 1989
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overfunding of the ACT, as identified by the Grants Commission, and even went further to say that a surplus existed on last year's budget.
In her opening address to the budget consultative committee the other day, the Chief Minister stated that on the basis of 1986-87 information the Grants Commission's findings were that the ACT is overfunded compared with the States to the extent of $84m. She went on further to state that there is nothing to suggest that this position has improved in the interim. I agree with her entirely, but this is a complete contradiction and a turnaround from her stance during the election campaign, which surely constituted a deception practised on the electorate. The effect of the Federal budget on the ACT, Mr Speaker, combined with an unimaginative, cautious and inadequate ACT budget, which will in all probability, even now, turn out to include some hollow promises which cannot be kept, will have serious implications for the ACT.
So, Mr Speaker, on balance, I must strongly disagree with the Chief Minister's comment from which my comments spring, that "the Federal budget is a responsible and fair response to national economic conditions and will not require the ACT Government to make any changes to the initial statement already issued". That is patently absurd; it is patently wrong; and nothing could be further from reality.
MR COLLAERY (3.51): I join with Mr Kaine in expressing surprise at the defensive nature of the remarks made earlier by the Chief Minister, Rosemary Follett, in her statement. There is a budget consultative process, and the opposition parties were going to give that the measure of respect it deserves at this stage and restrict our comments to the Federal budget response. I note that the Chief Minister chose today not to amplify her one-page knee-jerk reaction to the Federal budget issued on 16 August 1989. The Chief Minister welcomed this budget. Really, when the Residents Rally saw this Chief Minister into government, we were of the view that we were going to see widespread and informed initiatives taken in this Territory, so that even on budgetary issues we could have some exemplary and innovative ideas about attending to the social justice concerns, the business concerns and all those other matters in which the Labor Party professed its interest in its pre-election manifesto. Instead, we have a slavish response to the Federal budget, and that reflects the very sad nature of the ACT draft budget. But we will withhold further comment, other than general comment, on the latter draft budget.
Mr Speaker, the Federal budget was notable for a number of matters, all of which my colleague Mr Kaine has covered. To avoid repetition in this Assembly, the Rally has chosen to concentrate on those issues that are dearest to its interests, and they lie in the community interest in a budget.
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