Page 2737 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 1993
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Nevertheless, I believe that the Estimates Committee, if they wish to, may look at revenue estimates, just as they look at estimates of expenditure. For that reason, and without opposing the motion outright, I think it is appropriate that we make quite clear what it is that the Estimates Committee will be looking at and not seek to overextend the Estimates Committee into getting into general policy debates. I therefore move as an amendment to Mrs Carnell's amending motion:
Omit "measures", substitute "estimates".
MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (11.19): We totally support Ms Follett's amendment to my amendment. When we put forward the amendment we meant revenue estimates. We were not in any way suggesting that the Estimates Committee should be involved in policy debate. Our view was that revenue measures really meant revenue estimates, so we are exceedingly happy to support the amendment.
MS SZUTY (11.20): I inform the Assembly that I will be supporting the amendment moved by Ms Follett and the motion, as amended, moved by Mrs Carnell. I agree with Ms Follett that it formalises the process for the asking of questions during the Estimates Committee hearings. I think that is a good thing. I also appreciate that we are talking about revenue estimates and not revenue measures; so for me as presiding member there are some bounds on the estimates process. We will not be sitting for hundreds of hours considering the Government's budget this year. I add my comments to those made by Ms Follett and Mrs Carnell to endorse the motion, as amended.
Amendment agreed to.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS - STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Financial Management of ACT Health
MR KAINE (11.21): I present report No. 4 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled "Financial Management of ACT Health", together with a copy of the extracts of the minutes of proceedings. I move:
That the report be noted.
The Public Accounts Committee took this reference of its own volition some months ago. I felt at the time that there was some concern on the part of the Government that we were setting out on some kind of witch-hunt to embarrass the Government and generally make a political nuisance of ourselves. That was never the intention. Our intention was simply to review what was happening within the health organisation, to see what fundamental problems existed, if any, and why it was that that organisation seemed to have more difficulty than anybody else in controlling its budget, or perhaps in estimating at the beginning. We did not know what the problem was.
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