Page 2972 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 August 1990
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not the case. We know that governments are quite capable of being grossly inefficient. This Government is making a very strong effort to ensure that it is not inefficient and is going to spend the dollars of the Territory in the most effective way possible.
There certainly is a reduction in the amount that was originally sought by parts of the hospital system to put towards the cost of providing for the hospital redevelopment project. It is an amount which I believe will see provided all the services which were originally envisaged. I see no risk of any cuts to any services as a result of that trimming back, that cutting back of the fat, as Mr Berry put it.
I also want to put on the record that when Mr Berry refers to one-off recurrent costs I do not make the assumption, as he has made, that the figure of $154m postulated by the steering committee last year necessarily included that. I would not wish my silence on the matter to be assumed to mean that I agree with Mr Berry on that subject. If that is not the case, I will certainly be saying so.
Ms Follett: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: could you advise who will be taking the Chief Minister's questions?
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for that observation.
Mr Collaery: Mr Speaker, I would have done it, except that I did not get the chance.
Mr Wood: You did not think about it.
Mr Collaery: I certainly did think about it. The Leader of the Opposition jumped to her feet before I could, which is unusual, really. Mr Speaker, I will take the questions from the Opposition, on behalf of the Chief Minister.
Acton Peninsula Site
MRS NOLAN: Mr Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. Yesterday, in response to a question, he mentioned that the National Capital Planning Authority had initiated an inquiry into the use of the Acton Peninsula. According to this morning's paper, the Cabinet requested the inquiry. Is there any inconsistency between this report and the Minister's statement to the Assembly?
MR HUMPHRIES: I thank Mrs Nolan for her question. I do appreciate the opportunity to clear up the ambiguity that has appeared in the Canberra Times and elsewhere.
The ACT Government, in making its decision on the Royal Canberra Hospital, asked the Interim Territory Planning Authority to carry out studies of that peninsula. The ITPA
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