Page 3918 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 15 December 1992
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I cannot accept, and the Liberals cannot accept, the arguments put forward by the Minister. The question of increasing the Commissioner for Housing's authority from $500,000 to $1.5m may be very easily passed through. The Minister speaks in terms of various controls that can be put into place, but we would argue that it is just as easy for the Minister to leave the amount that is available for authorisation by the Commissioner for Housing at $500,000.
In the event that the Commissioner for Housing, or the Housing Trust, wishes at any time to go above that amount, surely to heaven it is not going to take as long as it takes to amend legislation in this Territory? Surely it will not take as long as to amend matters like the ambulance legislation or any other legislation we debated recently. Surely the Minister could immediately be apprised of the situation. Mr Connolly, you are a diligent Minister - if you are not, you should not be there - and all you have to do is to tick it and let it through. We are not convinced that what you have said so far justifies this amendment and we will oppose it.
Question put:
That the amendment (Mr Cornwell's) be agreed to.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 6 NOES, 9
Mrs Carnell Mr Berry
Mr Cornwell Mr Connolly
Mr De Domenico Ms Ellis
Mr Kaine Ms Follett
Mr Stevenson Mrs Grassby
Mr Westende Ms McRae
Mr Moore
Ms Szuty
Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the negative.
Clause agreed to.
Clause 6 agreed to.
Clause 7
MR CORNWELL (9.23): Madam Speaker, I move:
Page 4, proposed new subparagraph (a)(i), line 10, after "money borrowed", insert ", within limits set by the Treasurer,".
Madam Speaker, the reason for this, frankly, is that there has been far too much evidence across Australia of the opportunities given for unrestricted off-budget borrowing getting governments and States into a great deal of difficulty. I am very concerned that the best figure I can find in relation to how much may be borrowed off budget is a quote at page 70 of the Budget Overview 1992-93. I will quote the entire sentence because that is all that I can find. It states:
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