Page 4365 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 30 November 1994
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That process was being undertaken. I was being advised by officers of my department - the rangers - the people that you stood up a minute ago and supported by saying, "Let them do their job. Let them get on with their job". These rangers were reporting to me that they had some concerns in relation to some of those attendances and some of the suggestions that have been put forward by the RLSS. It was a reasonable position for me, as a Minister, to take. Were I to do anything else, I could hear the echoes from across this room about my not discharging my ministerial responsibility correctly. You can rest assured, Mr De Domenico, that I intend to do it and I will do it.
MR DE DOMENICO: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker.
Mr Wood: You had your supplementary question, did you not?
MR DE DOMENICO: No, I did not. I am glad that Mr Wood is not the Speaker. Mr Lamont, noting that you have expressed concern at the day-to-day administration - in your words - of the Royal Life Saving Society and noting that the day-to-day administration is the responsibility of the executive officer, who has been appointed by the board, I ask: Do you intend to sack the board?
MR LAMONT: First of all, Madam Speaker, I thank the member for another opportunity to show just how silly he is. The simple proposition, as I have said, is that the Royal Life Saving Society has an enviable record. I have a difficulty in terms of the grant application which has been made. I have a ministerial responsibility to the people of Canberra to ensure that the public moneys that are granted for applications such as the one that has been put forward are expended appropriately and expended for the purpose for which, on a day-to-day basis, those claims are made. When I have satisfied myself that that is the situation in relation to the grant that has been made - - -
Mr Kaine: How long does that take?
MR LAMONT: They were advised last week, Mr De Domenico.
Mr De Domenico: No; that is Mr Kaine.
MR LAMONT: I was looking at him and talking to you. Mr De Domenico, they have been advised as late as Friday, and again on Monday. They received formal written notification - - -
Mr De Domenico: That they were not going to get any money?
MR LAMONT: That is right. They have also been told that, in relation to those concerns that we have, the basis upon which the Sport and Recreation Council - not me, although I concur with the recommendation of the Sport and Recreation Council - - -
Mr De Domenico: Not to give them any money over the summer period to provide lifeguards?
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