Page 1658 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 29 May 1990
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technical and further education services and finances on a sound, sustainable, long-term basis. I will be tabling that report later today for public information and discussion.
The Government has already announced its intention to transform the Mitchell Health Services Supply Centre into a government owned business operating on a commercial basis. The new business will make its services available throughout the region in both the public and private sectors. The corporatisation of the Mitchell centre will provide a base for greater output and productivity from this major public asset. It will also, over time, produce significant budget savings. The Minister for Health, Education and the Arts has announced the appointment of members of the interim board and will be making a statement on this matter and the development of the principal public hospital also later today.
As a result of a review of government vehicle usage which I initiated in December, decisions have now been made to reduce the number of cars operated by ACT Government agencies and to manage the remaining vehicles more effectively. I expect that as a result of these measures it will be possible to reduce the size of the government car fleet by more than 10 per cent - a reduction of 110 cars from the public fleet. This initiative will free up some $1.4m in capital and achieve significant ongoing maintenance and running cost savings. This will be achieved without affecting community services. For example, staff members such as community nurses who need cars to service the community will still have them.
ACTION management has recently announced the transfer of the ACTION depot from run-down sheds at Kingston to new, high-quality and well-equipped facilities at Tuggeranong. This management decision - and it was a management decision - which happens to be consistent with the Government's decisions in other functional areas, will mean that more buses will be garaged and serviced close to their main passenger sources. This will produce economies for ACTION with no adverse effect on services.
I turn now to proposed revenue measures. The Leader of the Opposition has made much of the fact that the Government has concentrated only on cutting expenditure. She has been wrong all along. Contrary to that expressed belief, the Government has not been focusing its attention only on cost savings. It has also been looking closely at opportunities to raise additional revenues. You cannot look at only one side of your budget.
Constitutionally, it is theoretically possible for the Territory, unlike the States, to impose a retail sales tax. Most American states and Canadian provinces rely on such a tax as an important revenue source. The question has been raised by certain people recently that perhaps the Government ought to be raising additional taxes to maintain
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