Page 524 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Mr Kaine: You are one of the two members of the board, so surely it is accountable.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, as a member of that board I think I am particularly well placed to make that observation. I think that in alluding to whatever it was - left-wing ideology or one of his usual hackneyed phrases - Mr De Domenico really is underestimating the Government's intentions on this matter. As I have said many times, we will be looking after the best interests of our whole community in relation to the TAB. I think that, if the community was thoroughly aware of what Dr Hewson's proposals meant for operations like the TAB, they would be alarmed indeed. I think that if that Fightback package does ever come into effect we will see the TAB suffer dramatically and we will also see the ordinary people who want to have a bet and go to the races suffer as well. They will be paying 15 per cent on their entrance to the races, 15 per cent on any food or drink that they have there, 15 per cent every time they put their hands in their pockets.
Mr De Domenico: You can ring up and use the TAB.
MS FOLLETT: Mr De Domenico observes that you can ring up the TAB, and well you may; but what we know is that Dr Hewson is planning to sell off Telecom and what we will see then, of course - - -
Members interjected.
Mr Berry: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I want to hear what the Chief Minister has to say and I cannot hear it over the ravings of these people opposite. They have to be dragged into gear.
MADAM SPEAKER: It is a fair point of order. I have called for order at least three times. I would be pleased if members could remember the provisions of standing order 39.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, very briefly, even people who ring up the TAB will, under Dr Hewson, be doing so on the basis of paying for timed local calls.
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Chief Minister. As one of the two major shareholders, the other one being Mr Berry - and the only two shareholders, so you have complete control now - does the Chief Minister not have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the best possible financial outcome? That is, ACTTAB should remain as a Territory owned corporation which it is now or, better still, as recommended by the professional advice sought by her Under Treasurer, she should accept the advice and privatise it.
MS FOLLETT: I am surprised that Mr De Domenico does not go the whole hog and exhort me to put in a "Ministry of Privatisation" like Dr Hewson's. Of course, I have a fiduciary responsibility in relation to the TAB but I also have a responsibility as a leader of a government to ensure that the people of this Territory are able to see what is going on with the TAB and are able to question what is going on. I believe that the corporatised model does not best reflect that. Mr De Domenico can huff and puff all he likes, but I will not be selling the TAB. I think that this fanatical admiration of privatisation is one of the weakest of the platforms that we are seeing from the Liberals at this particular time.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .