Page 1477 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 26 September 1989
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The competitiveness of the ACT government service group is evidenced by private developers selecting the ACT government service to carry out line marking work in a recent private development through an open tender process.
ACT Electricity and Water
Mrs Grassby: On 27 July, Mr Kaine asked the Chief Minister as acting Minister for Housing and Urban Services the following question:
... before the transition to self-government a couple of months ago, the Federal Labor Government was moving to fully commercialise the ACT Electricity and Water authority. Is it the intention of the ACT Labor Government to continue to follow this path? If so, has any progress been made to this point? If no progress has been made, what is the target for fully commercialising the operations of that authority?
The Chief Minister's response was:
I thank Mr Kaine for the question. It is a matter on which I believe I would need to take some expert advice and so I will undertake to get some further information for Mr Kaine. But I think, in general terms, it is correct to say that this Government is anxious to protect our public sector industries such as the electricity and water supply. We are fairly happy with the way it has been operating and will not be taking any steps to change its methods of operation in the short term. But, as I say, I would wish to take more detailed advice on the matter.
I now provide the following information as an addendum to that given by the Chief Minister when she responded on 27 July.
Firstly, it must be recognised that the Government is firmly committed to retention in public ownership of bodies such as ACT Electricity and Water, because of the essential nature of their services and the need to meet wider government objectives in the delivery of such services.
Notwithstanding my position regarding continued public ownership I do see significant advantages to the ACT if the electricity and water authority is required to perform in the most responsive and efficient manner. This is clearly what the Commonwealth had in mind with their decision to impose a more commercial environment on their major business enterprises, such as Telecom and Australia Post.
I am aware that ACT Electricity and Water has done a considerable amount of work towards developing a reform package for consideration by government. I am also aware that the ACT Electricity and Water Act 1988 was based on the
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