Page 2334 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 June 1990
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rates. What rot! The people opposite have misled the people of the ACT in a number of respects, and I will just focus on one of them for the moment. I refer to the hospitals. They have said that what they plan - - -
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry, this is not relevant to the debate on these amendments.
MR BERRY: These are revenue raising amendments, Mr Speaker, and the revenue will be intended to cover government expenditure.
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; this Bill talks about the collection and levying of rates. It has got nothing to do with the hospitals or anything else.
MR SPEAKER: Please be relevant, Mr Berry.
MR BERRY: I will, indeed, Mr Speaker, and revenue is important when it comes to the funding of other services, as Mr Duby rightly said. I am surprised that the bookkeeper opposite cannot see that. This Government has said that it will adopt a particular course in relation to our hospitals. It has said that it will cost so much, and it talks about $154m in relation to its redevelopment plan. The figures demonstrate that it will cost more than the Government says it will, indicatively speaking, and this Government knows that it will have to raise more money through measures like this than would otherwise be the case - and it will be because of its mismanagement of the economy generally.
This is a Government that has not done its sums correctly. It is a Government that does not know how much the ACT owes, because the Chief Minister - the chief bookkeeper - has never done the figures, on his own admission.
Mr Kaine: That is not so. You are distorting and misrepresenting again.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Chief Minister, please!
Mr Kaine: He keeps saying it and I will keep contradicting it.
MR SPEAKER: Order! Please make a personal explanation later when you have leave.
Mr Kaine: No. Tell him to tell the truth, Mr Speaker. I do not see why I should have to keep correcting him when he tells lies.
MR SPEAKER: There is an imputation there, Chief Minister. Would you please withdraw the bit about telling the truth.
Mr Kaine: Speak the truth for once; come on.
MR BERRY: Withdraw it.
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