Page 3224 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 21 September 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Madam Speaker, I think it is also important to note that in fact the cost of government in the Territory has reduced, and that is an important point. Overall, the value that the community gets for its dollar spent on ACT government administration has increased. Whilst I respect the point that Mrs Carnell is making - and I do not have the figures before me at the moment - I believe that what we have done as a government is to go about reducing our own outlays in a very responsible manner, in a manner that has ensured that our community services are maintained, that those services that we know the community needs are maintained. At the same time we have enabled a number of staff who wish to take advantage of voluntary redundancies to do so.
I have never advocated the approach which I know the Liberals have put forward; that is, massive reductions in the public sector. That has not been my approach at all. Madam Speaker, I at no time have said that I wish to have fewer people working for the ACT administration, which the Liberals have said. Mr Kaine, I think, started off with a figure of about 3,000. Where there is a more efficient method of conducting the Government's business, where that can be assisted by voluntary redundancies, that has been our approach.
MRS CARNELL: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, will the Chief Minister then admit that the $17m worth of taxpayers' money spent on voluntary redundancies has been less than successful, taking into account that not only do we have more total staff in the ACT this year than we had at the end of last year but we have more permanent staff as well?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I think the real question here is what has been the cost of government. There is no doubt that there has been a real reduction in our outlays. I know that Mrs Carnell does not want to accept that, but it is indeed the case.
Per Capita Debt
MRS GRASSBY: Madam Speaker, my question is also to the Chief Minister. Can the Chief Minister confirm that the ACT's net level of per capita debt declined again in 1993-94?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, yes, I can certainly confirm that. Of course, it is more good management news that the Liberals do not want to know about. We have in fact reduced our net debt per capita during the past financial year. After question time I will be tabling figures which show that ACT government activities have in fact accumulated net reserves - reserves of $630 per capita at 30 June 1994. That is actually an improvement of $583 per capita since 1990-91, when Mr Kaine was Treasurer. So, for the total ACT public sector, when you include our public trading enterprises, the net debt in real per capita terms has been reduced from $1,009 per person in June 1991 to $180 per person in June 1994.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .