Page 3566 - Week 12 - Thursday, 19 September 1991
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Mr Duby concentrated at least part of his remarks on the tourism industry. I can understand why he is somewhat sensitive on that matter, because it was he who flagged the question of a bed tax on the tourism industry and he has been caught out there. Mr Duby went public, saying that I would impose a bed tax on the tourism industry, and I did not do that.
Mr Duby, we realise, from having seen his public pronouncements, obviously was considering such a tax himself. The Government of which he was a part was obviously considering such a tax. I can understand why he is extremely disappointed that I, in fact, did not do that. The reason I did not do it is that I do recognise the importance of tourism in our economy and I do recognise that such a tax would not be encouraging to that industry at this time.
In looking at the budget for tourism, members have to be aware that, in fact, there has been a trust fund established for the commission. That does mean that some of the figures are not as obvious as I would perhaps like to have seen them in the budget papers that have been provided. Certainly, the sorts of cuts that Mr Duby alluded to simply have not happened, and I do not know how he has worked that out.
In conclusion, the fact is that people are generally aware of the constraints that were placed upon this Government in framing this budget but one major constraint that has not been touched upon by the speakers so far, of course, was the deficit that Mr Kaine left me. One of the early jobs we had to do in framing the budget was to overcome the $6m or so deficit that Mr Kaine delivered, largely because of his inability to control spending in the health area.
The deficit was dealt with by applying part of the surplus that we had made in the 1989 budget. I am quite proud of that fact. I think that Mr Kaine might have acknowledged that, in fact, it was he who left a deficit, and that the only other budget which I have produced in fact produced a surplus which enabled me to overcome Mr Kaine's deficit without recourse to borrowing and, of course, at the same time repaying significant debt of the Territory.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (4.25): Pursuant to standing order 174, I move:
That the Appropriation Bill 1991-92 be referred to the Select Committee on Estimates.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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