Page 2887 - Week 13 - Thursday, 23 November 1989
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The main difficulty is the fact that we are still waiting for any information as to the firm arrangements and agreements.
Once again, we have been told that it is commercial-in-confidence - that terrible term again. Everything is commercial-in-confidence these days, Mr Speaker. That causes some concern to the Rally, particularly when we see a government across the way that ran on a platform of open, consultative and accountable government. That, Mr Speaker, is the reason why the Rally has some concern about that particular issue. I will be raising other issues in relation to the Bruce Stadium in another forum.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (11.00): I cannot let the previous speaker's remarks go by without making some comment. The speaker said you cannot overestimate the importance of Bruce Stadium not only to the people of Canberra but also to the people of Australia. What I say in response to that is: if it was so important to those people, why did they not go there?
Division agreed to.
Division 140.1, $19,618,300, agreed to.
Division 140.2, $1,180,000, agreed to.
Division 150, $1,483,500, agreed to.
Proposed expenditures - Government Services Office -
Division 160.1, $11,457,800, agreed to.
Division 160.2, $155,400,000, agreed to.
Proposed expenditures - Department of Community Services and Health -
Division 170.1, $221,748,200
MR HUMPHRIES (11.03): I cannot let this area go past without some comment. Never let it be said that the Liberal Party lacks compassion. Having heard the plaintive cries of the Chief Minister and others over the last few days about having lost $5m in a thoughtless and careless act on Tuesday night - - -
Ms Follett: Stupid, I think it was.
MR HUMPHRIES: "Stupid", says the Chief Minister. I would put more far-sighted epithets on it. Having heard all those cries of dismay, the temptation came before my party to amend this division by reducing it by $5m to provide that the Government might make up the $5m it had lost. This would ensure that there was some opportunity for the Government to address the problems we have already more than amply identified in this area of overexpenditure.
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