Page 3210 - Week 10 - Thursday, 16 September 1993
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Overseas and in other States, reform has been embraced and opportunities seized. The public sector is being refocused, becoming goal rather than process orientated. Modern commercial practices and techniques are being embraced. In Western Australia only a fortnight ago a host of sweeping measures were proposed in a review of public sector finances. The public will get more for less, whereas Labor here in the ACT is prepared to make us pay more for less. We know that we will continue to get less Federal money. We will be treated like everybody else. The ACT will be treated in exactly the same way as other States, yet we are doing nothing about it. People want value for money, for waste comes at a cost to all of us, for businesses and consumers. It stifles our trade; it stifles our standard of living; it limits our future by squandering what we have.
Reduction of public expenditure does not mean reduction in services. That happens only if a decision - and I emphasise "decision" - is taken to that effect. Many activities of government have parallels within the private sector, particularly in the administration area. So why not apply the same management and operating skills? Devolution of decision making makes sense, for it gives staff responsibility, it rewards initiative, and it produces results now, not when the ponderous wheels of bureaucracy determine it. Devolution frees up resources to produce results.
So many areas of government can use the forces of competition to focus on the needs of clients - again, result orientated, not process orientated. The simple fact is that our public sector can be a vibrant place. It can be an efficient service provider to users, be they businesses, consumers or members of the public. We can do more for the disadvantaged if there is more opportunity and less bureaucracy. If you want to help a target group, the last thing you want to do is put layers of bureaucracy between the idea and the people you want to help.
The ACT needs new ideas and innovation. This budget merely confirms that the Labor Party has no positive ideas at all. Quite clearly, the ACT Follett Labor Government is lagging behind the rest of Australia in economic reform. It can only be called dinosaur economics. Every other State government, including Labor governments in Queensland and South Australia, has embraced significant changes in the way governments deliver services to the community. Here in the ACT we seem to be trapped in Jurassic Park, with a government that holds on to obsolete and inefficient budget strategy.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I seek to make a small statement under standing order 47.
MADAM SPEAKER: Proceed, Ms Follett.
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, there was a great deal that was entertaining in Mrs Carnell's speech and, unfortunately, a great many inaccuracies. I would seek to correct one of them because I think it will lead to needless anxiety on the part of the community. It relates to Mrs Carnell's claim that families using oil for heating purposes will be $140 worse off as a result of the abolition of the diesel fuel exemption.
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