Page 4015 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
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Leader of the Opposition has been shown up by the performance of her own Treasury spokesman, Mr Kaine, during public and private meetings of the committee. The public know that Mrs Carnell's policy knowledge extends only to the last newspaper article she has read. We on this side of the house await Mr Kaine's return as Opposition Leader to get a real debate on the issues.
Madam Speaker, I would also like to take issue with the Canberra Times report which stated that members of the Government fully supported the Estimates Committee report. The Government backbenchers made up three of the 11 positions on the committee. We, therefore, did not constitute a majority of its membership. Whilst Government backbenchers did participate in the process and agree to a final report, it does not indicate our acceptance of its contents or its recommendations in their entirety.
Mr Humphries: You should have dissented, then.
MRS GRASSBY: There are various aspects of the report which I disagree with but which do not warrant a dissenting report.
Mr Humphries: Come on; tell us which ones.
MRS GRASSBY: When you hold your tongue - - -
Ms Follett: Madam Speaker, I really believe that the amount of interjection on Mrs Grassby is virtually intimidatory, and it ought to be brought to a halt.
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Follett, I was just about to call for order. Could we have some order, please.
MRS GRASSBY: As members of the Government, it is not our function to perform the duties of the Opposition in the estimates process. Opposition and Independent members of the Assembly have the right to put forward their criticisms of the budget in this report. They must either stand or fall on this report, and I believe that they have fallen.
The Government has carefully considered the recommendations of the Estimates Committee report and accepts completely or in principle 36 of the 40 recommendations made by the committee. However, the Government opposes four specific recommendations. In particular, recommendations 32 and 34, dealing with foreshadowing expenditure reductions in health and education and providing full details of where and how the reductions will be achieved, are opposed. The Government cites strong arguments in its response to the Estimates Committee report on these matters.
Furthermore, I would be concerned at any move within this Assembly for it to start intervening in the expenditure process. Although members here are charged with ensuring accountability through the scrutiny process, nothing would be gained from members trying to second guess expenditure several years out. Just about every accountant, financial controller, manager or director will tell you that estimates which are several years out are subject to considerable variability and are inaccurate. We all know that the Sydney 2000 Olympic budget has come in for criticism by some doomsayers, but even the independent auditors which looked at the figures said that they are as reliable as any projections that are several years out can be.
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