Page 4299 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 20 November 1990
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The committee spent some time reviewing travel expenditure but did not make any specific recommendation. However, I have written to each of my ministerial colleagues indicating that I am also concerned about continued growth in expenditure on travel.
Mr Connolly: Does it apply to them or just their departments?
MR KAINE: Yes. I have asked that they advise program managers to carefully consider the necessity of all proposed travel expenditure with a view to reducing it, and this will be given close scrutiny by the Government. Another matter raised by the committee was the funding of travel expenses for the Legislative Assembly program. I refute the suggestion that I gave a direction to you, Mr Speaker, concerning the level of funds available to the Assembly for all travel, including that of committees. There was discussion of the Speaker's travel bid, along with other bids in your budget as part of the budget cabinet process. However, the Legislative Assembly program is a program no different from any other Government program and the same management principles apply. The Speaker has to justify his bid, exercise restraint in expenditure control, and then exercise the same freedom as other program managers have to allocate funds provided for other operating costs.
Budget Cabinet imposed no different constraints on the Speaker than were imposed on other program managers. Decisions were made in all cases on levels of expenditure that the Government would fund and it is just as well, Mr Speaker, that we exercised some constraint. I would like to raise a point that Mr Moore seems to have a certain obsession about travel costs and I wondered why. I have discovered why; it is because he is an expert at it. I will table for incorporation in Hansard in a moment, Mr Speaker, some interesting information. Mr Moore has attacked the Deputy Chief Minister for spending $6,273 on business travel to go on government business to attend ministerial meetings.
Mr Moore: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR KAINE: I would seek a short extension of time, Mr Speaker, at this time.
Mr Moore: Mr Speaker - - -
MR KAINE: I have already sought a short extension; so you cannot chop me off, Mr Moore. Keep trying, but it will not work.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Moore, what is your point of order?
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