Page 4479 - Week 15 - Thursday, 22 November 1990
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they are inconsistent, I will be only too pleased to make inquiries as to why the letter and the attachment do not seem to tally. I would be very surprised if they do not, given the fact that it is of a technical nature. Ms Follett has probably misread the chart, or something along those lines.
With regard to guarantees of funding for heritage and cultural groups from the CDF, I think we will see the furphy of this issue being raised again and again. In the Chief Minister's budget speech, budget paper No. 1, page 10, paragraph 1, he says that the Government is "well aware that community groups may be concerned by this move", that is, the move to abolish the CDF. He continued:
However, the Government guarantees that total community grants will be maintained in real terms for two years so that no category of users assisted by the Fund will be disadvantaged. The distribution of the grants will be reviewed in accordance with normal practice ...
Mr Berry: That is not true.
MR DUBY: Are you calling the Chief Minister a liar?
Mr Berry: No, you are.
MR DUBY: I would like to work that out. The statement is there in black and white. Ms Follett has heard it on a number of occasions. I can say that those groups which receive funding, like heritage and cultural groups, have their guarantees, so I do not need to push that line and give any further guarantees to the Leader of the Opposition. The heritage protection legislation is currently being prepared.
Ms Follett: Have you got a date?
MR DUBY: I am not able to give a date as to when I will be able to introduce that, although I anticipate that the legislation will be introduced in the early session of next year.
With regard to animal welfare, the working paper has been circulated through the various groups and organisations. I have already made a statement and tabled in the Assembly the policy on animal welfare. You have seen that. You are well aware of the actions that we have introduced concerning animal welfare. We have specified what that legislation will contain. In my view and in the view of the various animal welfare organisations - the RSPCA in particular - it is the most enlightened and best animal welfare legislation in Australia. It will contain a number of issues that will make the ACT a model for the rest of the country.
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