Page 2184 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 June 1990
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of these negotiations should be the findings of the Grants Commission's current review.
The Prime Minister goes on to state that whether the ACT would continue to require special revenue assistance after its inclusion in the general revenue pool in 1993-94 "would need to be assessed at that time". Like the Chief Minister, I am disappointed that he could not negotiate an additional year of the real terms guarantee. That certainly would have been useful. However, the Prime Minister's letter makes it quite clear that the transitional funding arrangements can be negotiated.
Given that the Northern Territory has been able to negotiate additional assistance since it entered the general revenue pool, then it should be possible for an effective ACT government to do likewise, if that is necessary. Thus the transitional funding period can be expected to extend to at least 1992-93. Even without negotiating with the Commonwealth, however, the ACT has the financial resources to extend the transition period itself. I am opposed to rapid change for the sake of it. I believe that change should be managed and smooth. Rapid change is bad for both the community and the economy.
As a member of the Labor Party, I also disagree with the Liberal obsession with small government and private markets. I believe that the public sector legitimately exists to provide services to the community. I know that the Alliance position, as expressed in the Priorities Review Board report, disagrees with that view. What I wish to stress is that it is not a matter of fact but rather a matter of opinion.
Not only do we disagree with the Government over the timing of the transition process but we also disagree over how the transition will be achieved. This is no more obvious than in the recommendations of the Priorities Review Board. The Government keeps saying that these are only recommendations and people should not be concerned as there is no Government decision on them yet.
I would like to make two points about that. First, the Chief Minister hand-picked the Priorities Review Board. He knew the views of its members and knew what to expect from them. It is quite obvious that the CARD view of the world has had a decent run in the Priorities Review Board report. We have known that position for some time.
Secondly, the Government has already begun the implementation of a number of its proposals, particularly those in the education and health areas. We also have the most senior ACT public servant reported on the front page of the Canberra Times as saying that the report will be and is being implemented. I think it is quite clear that the views of the Priorities Review Board and those of the Government do coincide. Canberrans who oppose those views need to speak out now, before they are implemented. It was
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