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only 14 per cent - and the number of people at the coalface, the people producing services out there, has reduced. Again it appears that the previous Chief Minister got somewhat confused. We do have an increase in SES positions; we do have an increase in SOG positions; we do have an increase in the wage bill. For that reason I announced a freeze on SES and SOG officers, effective from 31 March, as the first step in the first comprehensive three-year staffing strategy that this Assembly has seen.

MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question. Based on those statistics, Mr Speaker, we can assume that the Leader of the Opposition was telling a little porky last week.

Mr Berry: I take a point of order.

Ms Follett: Mr Speaker - - -

MR SPEAKER: Which one of you wishes to take it? Please withdraw, Mr Kaine. I do not think that was a supplementary question.

MR KAINE: I will rephrase that. The Leader of the Opposition was distorting the facts.

Ms Follett: If we are going to debate the point of order, Mr Speaker, I might say briefly that none of the statistics that Mrs Carnell has produced disprove in any way what I said. Nor has she taken into account the addition of functions in that period, and I will make a statement about it later.

MR SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, I was about to invite you to do that at the end of question time if you so wish.

Acton Peninsula

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Mrs Carnell, what is the timetable agreed with the Commonwealth for the demolition of the buildings on Acton Peninsula, and what arrangements will be made to ensure that the work does not disturb existing tenants, especially the hospice and the child-care centre?

MRS CARNELL: Thanks very much. That was part of a question that I think I have already answered. As I said, right at this moment negotiations are going on between the Commonwealth and the ACT at departmental level doing exactly that - setting up a timeframe for the clearing of the site. The Commonwealth are very keen to start the Gallery of Aboriginal Australia in the next financial year, at some stage. I am sure that, in the interests of the ACT's tourism industry - something that is very important to us, particularly in terms of employment for our young people - we would be very keen to facilitate that if we could. We certainly would be looking at providing at least the part of the site they will need for that facility in the next financial year, at some stage. We are looking at coming up with a program to clear the site as the Commonwealth needs it. As soon as we have a timetable in place it will be tabled in this house. I am very happy to do it.

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