Page 2880 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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Members interjected.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR KAINE: I would say I very much respect Dr Kinloch's right to make the decision that he did. It does put him, to some degree, in a position of conflict with the members of the Government. But, as I say, that is a matter I will discuss with him when I have had the opportunity to do so. If necessary we will take that debate up further in the joint party room.
MR WOOD: I have a supplementary question. I would point out that we would not agree that some people regard Dr Kinloch as a weak link - the words you used. I think the community would tend to think there is a strong link there. However, in view of this very substantial expression of no confidence, what are you now doing to review your school closures program?
MR SPEAKER: Order! That is not a supplementary question.
Mr Wood: Of course it is a supplementary question.
MR SPEAKER: It is not a question on the answer given, Mr Wood. The answer given was nothing to do with what you just asked.
Costs of Ministers
MR STEVENSON: My question is to the Chief Minister and it is: how much will the taxpayers of Canberra have to pay if a fifth ministry is created? If the Chief Minister is unable to answer that question, would he be kind enough to explain how much each current Minister costs, including such things as a Ford Fairlane, extra personal staff and other relevant costs?
MR KAINE: As to the first part of the question, Mr Speaker, the additional cost to the taxpayer, if any, of creating an additional ministry is a question yet to be resolved because there is a long path to be followed before any such question becomes other than a hypothetical one. Let us be quite clear; there was an accord agreement entered into and signed by members of the Alliance Government that action would be taken to amend the legislation to allow the Chief Minister to appoint more than three Ministers. That was there because we observed the performance of the Labor Government with only four Ministers and we recognised the stresses and the pressures that were placed on the four Ministers of that Government. We were not prepared to allow that provision of the - - -
Mr Stevenson: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: just on relevance - my question is purely and simply to do with costs - - -
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