Page 849 - Week 03 - Thursday, 14 April 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
and have presented an enormous challenge in preparation. It has been a vast amount of work for a quite small number of people, and I think the fact that they have achieved the deadline so far and that we are, at least, on track for a 1 July commencement is very much to their credit.
MR KAINE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Chief Minister, given the big question mark around the timing - and I suggest that there is - have the orders yet been placed for the special biros and the special bottling of wine, or is that still in abeyance?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I certainly have placed no such orders, and I do not know whether such orders have been placed; but I will take the opportunity to say that I believe that it is very important for all of our public servants to accept that they are in a separate service and to adopt a corporate mentality towards that service, to commit themselves to the service of the ACT community rather than to the broader service that is involved in a Commonwealth Public Service position. I support the initiatives that have been taken by management in seeking to bring about that cultural change for our public servants. I am not sure whether that involves biros or bottles of wine or what, but I do think it is a very worthwhile endeavour that they are undertaking because this is, I think, likely to be the only new public service that will be formed in Australia.
It is a significant step indeed, not just for the Territory but for the people who work for the service, and I wish to see it done well. I am sure that the managers within the service also wish to see it done well and in a manner that our own Government Service employees can be proud of and be part of rather than feel that in some way they have been cut off from the Commonwealth or in some way have been made second-rate citizens. They certainly have not been, and I wish to ensure that they do feel that sense of pride, that sense of belonging and that sense of service to a specific community that is involved in the formation of the new service.
Kingston Bus Depot
MR BERRY: I have a question for the Deputy Chief Minister. This is a matter of some curiosity, as I understand it. Since the Kingston bus depot is not being used for all of its former uses, people will wonder what might happen to it. I would like to hear a little bit of information about any interim uses for the Kingston bus depot that might be under consideration.
MR LAMONT: I thank the member for his interest in this matter. Madam Speaker, as this is my first opportunity as a Minister to answer questions in question time - obviously the other side was too afraid yesterday - may I congratulate you as a Labor woman on occupying the position in this chamber that you do. It is often a matter that is overlooked by those opposite.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .