Page 310 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 1990
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because it is embarrassed; it wants to squirm out of any sort of commitment to the construction of a pool in Tuggeranong - it was necessary to demonstrate that, in addition to the program which we had initiated in terms of consultation with the community to establish their needs and wishes, departmental officers were in the process of preparing budget documentation. As you know, Mr Speaker, the process of budget preparation commences many months in advance of when the budget is eventually brought down.
Mr Collaery: So you did not have a budget commitment?
MR SPEAKER: Order.
MR WHALAN: Mr Collaery has just interjected and said that the Government did not have a budget commitment. I explained, and it is in the second paragraph of the document which has been tabled in this chamber:
During the short period Labor was in office in government of the ACT in 1989, the question was considered on a number of occasions. It was complicated by the proposal for a privately developed water theme park and recreational complex. Negotiations then proceeding prevented the inclusion of a Government pool in the 1989-90 budget.
It stated this categorically; there is no question. Mr Collaery presents this statement and interjection of his like some magic rabbit out of his hat.
Mr Kaine: Which budget did you put it in then?
MR WHALAN: There is clearly an indication there. But the difference, Mr Speaker, was in the preparation for the budget of 1990-91. This is clearly evidenced by the document, which is marked A, which shows the list of proposed capital works for the year 1990-91. On that list there is a list of 20 capital works programs. Those 20 capital works programs indicate a clear commitment. That is the difference between the situation that prevailed in the 1989-90 budget and the position which we intended to introduce in the 1990-91 budget which was a firm commitment.
Mr Kaine: They are only bits. It is a shopping list.
MR WHALAN: In anticipation of Decoin's not proceeding; this was the list. I will indicate to those people and for Hansard, Mr Speaker, that the first item on the list is the Tuggeranong 50-metre enclosed pool for the big price of $5.5m. It is clearly the number one item; number one in priority; number one in a list of 20. In addition to that there have been informal discussions. Once we had proceeded there was the prospect of using forward design to commence early work on the design of the Tuggeranong pool, so that immediately the financial year commenced the design
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