Page 345 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 1990
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Then we saw, for example, the Neutze report on the leasehold system. We have seen a variety of other documents such as the Craig report which is an excellent report on self-government. There are quite a number of precedents in terms of high value reports being prepared and, of course, a much greater number of lesser reports in terms of their public profile in the manner of consultants' reports and internal reports, such as the review of property management that was carried out by a consultant from the Federal Department of Administrative Services.
We on this side of the house see nothing different in the fact that this Chief Minister has gathered together a group of experts with practical experience to give their view on the priorities that this Government should set in its forward planning in the vital finance and commerce and civil administration areas of the Government.
Mr Speaker, having read through those reports, I think the Priorities Review Board really is part of an evolutionary process. It is a review from another perspective. What is wrong with that? It is an excellent idea, in my view. On the committee are one or two persons who have expounded their views in the past on certain issues, particularly views to do with public administration, the size of the public service and the like. There is nothing wrong with that.
All those other people whom I have mentioned, who were agreeable and acceptable to past Federal Labor governments, have previously expounded their views on the important topics that they were asked to review. So there is nothing that predetermines the viewpoints and suggests that that very high-level body could possibly be seen to take its orders from this Government or be reflective of what it might perceive to be our policies. That is an eminent Priorities Review Board. It will give eminent advice to this Government which will weigh all that advice through the proper and usual processes of government.
Mr Speaker, some of the principal statements were made on behalf of the Opposition by Ms Follett. In her introduction, she referred to a sham of a Chief Minister. She said:
... he has no idea or concept of how the economy of the ACT functions nor, indeed, how Government finances operate.
I found that a most regrettable comment. I was surprised at the Chief Minister's composure in allowing that to happen. Mr Kaine is known to all of us as a person who is skilled in financial affairs. Incidentally - and I would like to read this into the record - he is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Accountants; he has a diploma in accountancy, a degree in commerce and a masters degree in science in terms of military logistics. How Ms Follett could use such a mealy-mouthed and sour grapes way to describe a fellow member of the Assembly beats me.
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