Page 1564 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 12 August 1992
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I saw John on a number of occasions over recent weeks. On each occasion he was dealing with his situation with great courage. He had a great determination to overcome this challenge that he was confronting. Sadly, he was unable to achieve that objective. I believe that his contribution to the ACT in particular will not soon be forgotten by those of us who knew him and who saw the way that he committed himself to the tasks that he had to undertake here.
I support this motion of condolence. Along with the Chief Minister, I would like his widow and his family to know that we share their loss.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Government Service - Salaries and Staffing Reductions
MR KAINE: I direct a question to the Chief Minister and Treasurer. The Chief Minister has just published a statement in which she claims a recurrent budget surplus of something of the order of $6m in round figures. I note with interest that that coincides almost exactly with the amount of money that the Chief Minister claimed she was going to save in 1991-92 by the reduction of the public service by 250 people by way of redundancy. Can the Chief Minister tell us whether the $6m surplus on the recurrent account has resulted from the fact that she failed to phase those people out of the public service and whether, if so, that reflects a failure on the part of the Government rather than a success? If that is not so, can she tell us explicitly just how many people were phased out of the public service in 1991-92 by way of redundancy, how much of the $6m provision was in fact spent last year and how much of it is in fact being carried over into this current year to pick up those who did not go last year but might go this year?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I thank Mr Kaine for the question. I say at the outset, Madam Speaker, that, as I am sure Mr Kaine is aware, we have a great many figures presented to us and we will have a great many more presented to us still. In fact, the final quarterly statement for the financial year is currently in preparation and will be presented next week. That will show on a program by program basis the sort of detail which I am sure Mr Kaine seeks and which I am sure he will give very close scrutiny to.
But Mr Kaine has asked a specific question concerning the Government's decision last year to reduce the salaries bill by some $6m in that year and $10m in a full year. That reduction of expenditure was the extent of the Government's decision. We did acknowledge at the time that that would reflect possibly some 250 positions, but the decision was made on the sum of money. I think it is a bit regrettable that members opposite have demonstrated something of an obsession with the numbers of staff who have ceased employment as a result of that budget
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