Page 378 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 21 February 1990
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perhaps we may be confident in believing that the figure of $42m has some accuracy.
I believe that the former Chief Minister, Ms Follett, raised this issue in correspondence with the Prime Minister. That brings me to a number of other issues, but, first of all, I move:
That all words after "That" be omitted and the following substituted:
"this Assembly notes current working party negotiations with the Federal Government concerning the need to finalise arrangements for the policing of the ACT".
MS FOLLETT: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. We have the motion before us and I would ask for your ruling. It seems to me that the amendment directly negates the motion and it could not be in order.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Follett, I believe that this is an alternative and a vote can be taken on either the amendment or the original proposal. Therefore it is in order. Please proceed, Mr Collaery.
MR COLLAERY: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, if we are to take the component of the Australian Federal Police force on contract, the level of funds to be transferred by the Commonwealth to sustain that activity must reflect the actual level of activity. One major problem is really being confident that the current costing figures, as I said earlier, are correct, and particularly whether they underestimate real expenditure. That could leave us in a very difficult position. It is possible that if no agreement is reached, the ACT can continue to rely upon section 8 of the Australian Federal Police Act, which requires the police to police the ACT. If we did that, the level of expenditure the Commonwealth would assign to that task would be taken into account by the Grants Commission and, in effect, weighed against and deducted from our general revenue grant.
In terms of arguments for a transfer, if we do have a transferred component it is a component that we can vary the level of services for. The savings and receipts of the police force would accrue to us and, more importantly, we could get control over police objectives and priorities. However, Mr Speaker, we are hardly likely to be given effective control and priority unless we fully assume the financial responsibility for the task. It is true to say that where governments put their money they like to retain their influence.
The other issue to decide is whether we should establish an autonomous police force. I think all members accept the impracticality of that proposition, and clearly it is impracticable when we consider that the facilities currently owned by the Commonwealth are there, and it would
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