Page 461 - Week 02 - Thursday, 14 May 1992
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MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Kaine for the question, Madam Speaker. I am not aware of the media statements that report that One Nation, the Federal Government's package, would involve the States in additional debt of $28 billion. If Mr Kaine could refer those comments to me, I would be happy to get some advice on them for him and provide it as soon as I can.
MR KAINE: I wish to ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Since the Chief Minister conveniently overlooks what she knows to be true, I draw - - -
Ms Follett: On a point of order, Madam Speaker - - -
MADAM SPEAKER: I think that is - - -
MR KAINE: I said that she overlooks it, Madam Speaker, and I think that is a fair statement. I draw her attention to a document, of which she is a co-author, which was tabled at the Special Premiers Conference. It states:
Projections based on the "One Nation" Statement economic assumptions indicate that the States will accumulate $28 billion in additional debt by 1995-96. This is $10 billion more than the accumulation of Commonwealth debt over the same period and is equivalent to a doubling of State general government debt.
Since the Chief Minister is a co-author of that document, does she agree that the One Nation statement is economically flawed, and how does she plan to achieve the "massive cutbacks in essential services" which she says, in a document of which she is a co-author, have to be put into effect here?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, no, I do not agree that the One Nation statement is economically flawed. As members here will be aware, that statement contains a great deal that will be of benefit to the whole of the nation, the ACT included. I think Mr Kaine conveniently overlooks what is in that statement for the ACT. It is a fact that we stand to benefit from the additional funding for roads, heritage sites and so on. He conveniently overlooks those matters.
If I could come to what Mr Kaine appears to be saying about a massive debt as a result of that statement, I think he ignores again the situation of the ACT, with which he should concern himself most. Madam Speaker, I have repeatedly undertaken to constrain the Territory's debt so that our Territory does not end up in the same position as some of the other States which are virtually crippled by debt.
Mr Kaine knows that, and I think that for him to imply in his question that anything that I would do would alter that situation is simply silly. My budget record should prove to Mr Kaine and the rest of the community that I am very serious about containing debt. It is the case, Madam Speaker, that no other State is in the same position as the ACT. Mr Kaine knows that very well. If he is arguing that the One Nation statement will involve the ACT in additional debt, I really think that statement is as silly as he knows it to be.
Mr Humphries: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I ask that the document from which Mr Kaine has spoken be tabled in the Assembly.
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