Page 1694 - Week 06 - Thursday, 20 May 1993

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Mr Humphries: So you did not increase the Health Promotion Fund?

MR BERRY: Yes, we did.

Mr Humphries: How come it was $1.336m in 1991-92?

MR BERRY: I just explained that. I will do it again. The $1.336m figure included a $550,000 carryover from the previous year - some of these figures are rounded, as you would appreciate - and the $900,000 appropriation. Around $114,000 of that was carried over to the following year. So, in addition to the $900,000 base there was $114,000 on top of that, as well as about $18,000 as a growth factor and $200,000 as a one-off appropriation.

Mrs Carnell: But as a percentage of the total tobacco - - -

MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Mr Berry has leave to make a statement. Mr Berry, would you proceed with your statement. This is not an issue for debate.

MR BERRY: Yes, sure. That is right. No, no; it has increased in dollar terms - - -

Mrs Carnell: Not as a percentage of the excise. That is what you said.

MR BERRY: No, no; it has increased in dollar terms. If you have $2, it is more than $1; so it has increased.

Mrs Carnell: You said that it was an increase as a percentage of the tobacco excise.

MR BERRY: No, no. I think you are talking about percentages as applied from the Health Promotion Fund. There is a percentage figure which Mr Humphries knows full well applies in relation to arts, health and sport, and those percentages remain as a guide, as I said. They are not set in concrete, but there has been a growth factor included in the budgeting of about $18,000 and $200,000 as a one-off payment. So for this year the Health Promotion Fund, leaving aside the roll-over, according to my maths, is $900,000 plus $200,000 plus another $18,000, which is $1,118,000. It is an increase over the base of the previous year.

MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, I seek leave to make a short statement on the same subject.

Leave granted.

MR HUMPHRIES: Madam Speaker, the Minister earlier today was trumpeting his Government's massive achievements on the question of financing of health promotion, particularly of sport and sport objectives. He very clearly, to my mind at least, created the perception that this Government has increased the percentage of the tobacco franchise fee collected annually by the Government to devote towards the Health Promotion Fund in general and the sports budget as far as health promotion is concerned in particular.


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