Page 4364 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 30 November 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Royal Life Saving Society
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Sport, Mr Lamont. Minister, is it not true that for the past 12 years the Royal Life Saving Society have provided lifesaving services to the people of the ACT? Is it not true also that last year alone they saved some 12 lives in the ACT and attended 133 other cases where people in the ACT needed their assistance? If that is the case, is it not true that the component for that service to continue to be provided would be only $8,000?
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I take a point of order. I do not mind a question or two, but a diatribe is a little hard to put up with, especially from Mr De Domenico.
MR DE DOMENICO: If all those things are true, Minister, is it not worth $8,000 to prevent the possible loss of life in the ACT?
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, I would regard $8,000 as a very small price in those circumstances. That is the reason why, Mrs Carnell - if you will listen - I am insisting that the apparent breakdown of the administration of the Royal Life Saving Society be rectified and that it bring its day-to-day administration up to standard, so that the marvellous record of the Royal Life Saving Society, that enviable - - -
Mr Humphries: He has changed his tune. Now it is a marvellous record.
MR LAMONT: It is beyond dispute.
Mr Humphries: The alleged provision of services?
MR LAMONT: It is beyond dispute, over a great period of time. In fact, I am a supporter, as I know every other member of this Assembly is. But I also have a responsibility, as the custodian of public funds, where I believe that there is a legitimate concern or where there have been repeated - I emphasise "repeated" - requests for investigation of the day-to-day administration of that organisation. I am talking about the day-to-day administration - not about the volunteers, not about the people who go out and stand; not about the people who provide their time at pools. I am not talking about them. I am talking about the day-to-day administration. I am talking about the process required to underpin that enviable record.
My concern, quite clearly stated, is for that administration. I have indicated that, when I am able to be satisfied that the program they are outlining is the program they can deliver and that they have the administrative support and capacity to do so, I will make the funds available to the Royal Life Saving Society. If it means that they are unable to do that, and I need to provide funding to ensure that that work continues, I will do that also. But I will not provide funding to an organisation that in recent times has had repeated complaints in relation to the administration of its activity. That is the simple position, Mr De Domenico. That is the position that has been put to the Royal Life Saving Society and that is the reason why I find what has happened so strange and regrettable.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .