Page 4607 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 15 December 1993
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So there it is: Three actuarial reports, the Auditor-General, and the board itself time and time again. There is no link with the training argument that may be brought up. Everybody is saying, "We are taking more money from this industry than we are entitled to take, than we need to take".
It is also of note that it is the building industry that has provided an increase in the number of young people employed under the employment scheme the Chief Minister launched down near Lake Burley Griffin. It is this same industry that is saying, "We are prepared to employ more young Canberrans, but please make it easier for us purely and simply by implementing recommendations - not recommended by us, but recommended to this Minister by three actuarial reports, the Auditor-General, the board itself and, most importantly, this Assembly".
The Minister, at the Estimates Committee and in this Assembly, gave the impression that things would be done by the end of this year. Mr Minister, let us see what you are prepared to do. I can tell you that, if you are going to come into this Assembly and suggest things on which the Assembly says, "Okay, we will give you a chance", and they are not done, this Assembly may have to do the job for you.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport): Mr Deputy Speaker, I seek leave to make a short statement.
Leave granted.
MR BERRY: From all the invective and vitriol, we need to distil some of the facts of the matter. I should, first of all, raise with you a point of order. There is a question about whether this Bill has been introduced within six months of a similar matter, which the Speaker might have to look at. I am not sure of the dates, but it looks pretty tight to me.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: We will take the matter on notice, Minister.
MR BERRY: I think that needs to be looked at to make sure that it is in order. Aside from that, as I have said, we have to distil some of the facts of this matter. What was intended when I last spoke on this very issue was that we would have this matter before the house by the end of the year and that the debate would occur early next year. There is no question about that. The reason was that there was a lack of faith by the parties that one could proceed without the other. From my point of view, I have given a commitment and I intend to stand by that commitment as far as possible. What Mr De Domenico is on about is no more than a stunt.
Mr De Domenico: No, it is not. You have had two years.
MR BERRY: You knew, Mr De Domenico, that the change was going to happen, and it was going to happen simultaneously with changes to the legislation. I have talked to my colleague Mr Wood in relation to this matter, and he tells me that the legislation, except for a few very minor points, is almost ready and will be in the chamber in the early part of next year. There are powers under section 37 of the legislation which provide for me to make certain declarations in relation to that amount. As I have said to you, as soon as the legislation hits this chamber, I will make that declaration. It will be in accordance with the resources available to the board at the time and will also be consistent with the commitments that have been given to the players.
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