Page 4205 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993
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putting forward a capital works program on a long-term basis will increase the expectations of the community perhaps above and beyond the Government's means at the time, but I think the Planning Committee sensed that the community wanted more information and wanted to be part of the consideration of the Government's capital works process in a more meaningful way. I certainly hope that the Government will reconsider the recommendation of the Planning Committee in the light of further experience with the development of capital works projects over the next few years.
I also noted that the Government was not keen to include a lot of information about minor new works projects in the information that it regularly provides to the Planning Committee. That is a disappointing response, Madam Speaker, because I think Planning Committee members appreciate the time and the care taken by agencies, which provide considerable amounts of information about minor new works to inform committee members as to exactly what the parameters of these minor new works may be. The minor new works allocations in the capital works program for this year, agency by agency, did not amount to terribly much money; but the overall total - I cannot recall the exact figure - was some $6m. Even if it is applied to minor new works projects, that is a considerable amount of money. While it would be costly to provide detailed information to committee members, committee members would be keen to see information provided to the greatest extent possible.
Recommendation 17 is the final one that I will comment on. It reads:
That the Capital Works Program include information on an agency's list of outstanding minor new works, in order to provide an insight into the type of projects being considered for future years.
The Government, in its response, says that it is inappropriate, for policy reasons, for details of minor new works to be carried out in future years to be provided to the committee. From the committee's perspective, we are always grateful for the detail of information that can be provided to us to assist us in our task.
I note, Madam Speaker - I think it was in the Government's response to the Estimates Committee report - that the Government wants to review the timing of the process of the consideration of the capital works program by the Planning Committee and perhaps by the Estimates Committee. I had brief discussions with the chair of the Planning Committee earlier this afternoon. While a decision still has to be made on the timing of the budget process next year, particularly as it relates to the Federal budget process, it is perhaps timely to look at the whole structure of how the committees of the Assembly review the Government's budget, including capital works projects. I think we need to have some fruitful discussions and consider that matter further.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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