Page 2899 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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MR MOORE: I think that in his patronising, paternalistic tone, the Chief Minister has misrepresented what I said; but, apart from that, I would be delighted to accept his invitation at any stage to discuss as equals the Grants Commission in relation to the police force - as equals, Mr Kaine.
MR CONNOLLY (3.31): Mr Speaker, the Opposition was not going to respond to this today but I think it is appropriate, given that this has been put on record, that the Opposition's position on this is also put on record. When Mr Collaery announced the signature of this agreement with the Commonwealth, the Opposition promptly welcomed the signature and congratulated the Attorney on achieving this agreement.
We had earlier been critical of some comments of the Attorney-General which indicated that he might not enter into this contract with the Commonwealth this financial year. We were pleased that he did so. Our view is that the Commonwealth arrangement whereby this coming financial year's cost of the ACT police is fully met is satisfactory, but the challenge, as alluded to by Mr Collaery in his remarks, is to make sure that in future years the cost to be borne by the ACT is a fair cost. I am sure the Chief Minister would have no disagreement with that.
The Opposition's view has long been that, until we actually have day-to-day control of the police by virtue of an agreement of this nature, it will be impossible for us to get in there accurately and negotiate on a serious basis with the Commonwealth. We need to work out just where the line should be drawn between the cost of policing a town of 280,000 citizens and the special costs that are borne by the fact that this is the national capital and the Federal Government, therefore, has a responsibility. In his remarks the Attorney-General noted that the crucial test will be the next 12 months' funding, and we would agree with that. We would hope that as that process is approached, probably in the next six months, it may be an appropriate opportunity for an Assembly committee, perhaps, to look at these funding principles.
In general, we are pleased that the agreement is in place. The challenge, as we have said, is to ensure that the best deal is secured for the ACT, in short, to ensure that the maximum police effort is available on the streets for the minimum cost to the ACT taxpayer.
MR STEFANIAK (3.33): I am heartened to hear the words of Mr Connolly and the words of the Chief Minister and I endorse the words of the Attorney-General. A couple of things Mr Moore said did concern me. Firstly, this is a very sensible agreement and it is something that has been in the pipeline now for not just 12 months or so but considerably longer than that. Perhaps Mr Moore does not really appreciate the history of the ACT police force and
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