Page 1630 - Week 08 - Thursday, 28 September 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Chief Minister and in all subsequent information about that, that figure has always been listed as $22.7m, and in the budget paper No. 7, which was released on Tuesday, it is said that that figure is $21.3m. Would the Chief Minister be able to enlighten us as to the sudden change in that amount?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Duby for the question, Mr Speaker. Yes, it is indeed an interesting question and I think everybody in this Assembly would share my disappointment that that money was withheld at all, the Federal Government having given an undertaking on no fewer than six occasions that the ACT, as part of its self-government package, would receive a guaranteed level of real terms funding. As Mr Duby points out, the amount that we first estimated in that trust account was $22.7m, and in the budget that I handed down on Tuesday the amount has been recalculated at $21.3m that the Commonwealth is now holding in trust.
The reason for the change over the period relates - and it is a fairly simple matter - to changes in the consumer price index and in base adjustments. It is just a technical matter that has been clarified since the Federal budget and its application to the ACT has become clearer. They used a slightly different CPI figure and that accounts for the change. I have written to the Prime Minister seeking the release of these funds to assist the ACT to establish its finances on a State-type basis and put forward a number of restructuring proposals for which that money might well be put to use. As yet I have not heard back from the Federal Government on that matter.
Bushfire Council
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Housing and Urban Services. I refer the Minister to her answer to my colleagues Mrs Nolan and Mr Stefaniak in relation to the Bushfire Council. Can the Minister advise what was the nature of consultations that took place with the Federal Police before the decision was made to remove them from the Bushfire Council?
MRS GRASSBY: No consultation. We agreed that it was unnecessary to have them on it.
MR JENSEN: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Did the Government write to the Australian Federal Police asking for their comments on the decision to withdraw them from the council? If not, why not?
MRS GRASSBY: No, because we did not think it was necessary, and we have not informed the board as yet. We did not think it was necessary.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .