Page 6244 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991
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It is also, of course, a budget management tool. It does allow some flexibility in budgeting; but, quite importantly, it allows savings achieved in one area to be used in another area. At the moment, of course, there is no great incentive for agencies that have savings to make good use of them, and this provides a mechanism for agencies that are extremely efficient and achieve savings not to be punished by virtue of the fact that that money cannot be used elsewhere. So, I think most members would be aware that this kind of flexibility is a very good thing.
Mr Kaine, I note, intends to move to change only the percentage that can be moved between programs. So, I take that to mean that he does accept the intention of the Bill in this regard. Mr Moore raised the question of accountability for these movements. I think, again, that the Assembly's authority over the appropriation of public moneys can actually be increased or enhanced through this process because there is a requirement that any increase or decrease in appropriations to programs be reported to the Assembly within six days. So, again, the Assembly is kept fully informed, as it is in relation to the Treasurer's Advance.
I cannot immediately work out why Mr Kaine proposes to move only to change the amount here, except that he has related it to the possible size of movements of funds between programs. I guess he has picked an arbitrary figure that is somewhat more conservative than the figure that is contained in the Bill. I am prepared to stick with the 5 per cent amount. It seems to me to represent a reasonable size; and, of course, in some cases that will represent a quite large amount of money that potentially could be moved. But that is not to say that the maximum of that would always be used or, indeed, would ever be used.
So, I will be opposing Mr Kaine's amendment and sticking with the 5 per cent figure, but I do appreciate the fact that members understand the purpose of this. I trust that they are satisfied with the accountability considerations, and I am grateful for their general support for the Bill.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole
MR COLLAERY (6.00): Mr Speaker, I move the amendment circulated in my name - - -
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