Page 1094 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 1990
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School for calls of nature and matters of that kind. I recently became aware of the problem and I am aware that it is desirable for a pavilion to be available earlier than June 1990 for the start of the season, so I have asked that the project be speeded up. I am advised that this facility will be completed in May, which should ensure its availability for most of the winter season.
Calvary Hospital
MRS GRASSBY: My question is to Mr Humphries. In view of the fact that Calvary Hospital required extra funding in the last financial year by the Follett Government, can the Minister assure this Assembly that his Government can contain the public expenditure at Calvary to its current budget?
MR HUMPHRIES: The answer to the question is no, I cannot, any more than I can guarantee that expenditure in the other public hospitals in the ACT will be contained within present budgets. As Mrs Grassby well knows, her Government experienced a $7m cost blowout in its administration of the Woden Valley and Royal Canberra Hospitals. A Minister who stood up in here and said that there would be no variation of or departure from the budget would be extremely brave. However, I will do my best to ensure that Calvary comes in on budget. There have been problems with the Calvary budget and I have addressed those already to see whether they cannot be headed off before any serious developments occur. I undertake to ensure to the best of my ability that that is the case. However, to give a guarantee of that kind is quite simply impossible.
Lake Tuggeranong
MR JENSEN: My question is to Mr Duby in his capacity as the Minister responsible for lakes and parks. I refer the Minister to a recent statement by Mr Paul Whalan in the Tuggeranong Valley View about parkland and development at Tuggeranong. It is unfortunate that Mr Whalan is not present in the house to hear this question about the alleged wasting of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars on Lake Tuggeranong. Can the Minister comment on the truth or otherwise of this assertion?
MR DUBY: I thank Mr Jensen for the question. Yes, I am aware of the article quoting Mr Whalan in the newspaper mentioned. It was headlined: "Lake Park 'Waste'" and it went on to accuse the ACT Government of wasting hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars on Lake Tuggeranong. Frankly, I reject that assertion completely. There is no question that Mr Whalan had a great deal to say about park development on the shores of Lake Tuggeranong in that paper and, as usual, he got the story wrong again.
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