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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (21 November) . . Page.. 2237 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

Mr Speaker, the reason why members are so highly motivated about this small issue and a relatively small amount of money is that it is about that fundamental issue of democracy. The easiest and most effective way to cut your Opposition out is to disempower them, to remove their funding, and to make things hard for them. That is the easy way to do it. That is the way to close down government and to make sure that you do not get so much criticism. You make sure that members of the Opposition, your backbench and members of the crossbench do not have the necessary support and infrastructure to be able to challenge what you are saying. That is what this is about.

Debate interrupted.

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr De Domenico: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

Schedule - Part II

ACT Legislative Assembly

Proposed expenditure - Division 10 - Legislative Assembly, $5,489,000

Debate resumed.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, this is really about democracy. That is why members are fired up about a relatively small amount of money. I think Ms Tucker really put her finger on the pulse of this one when she said that it is not just a matter of $100,000 now; it is the forward projections - taking another $100,000 next year and another $100,000 after that. Mr Speaker, this has caused a great deal of pain for members and for others in terms of security. Where do we get that extra $100,000 next time around, or the time after that? That is the real question here, and that is the real message that I want to go back to, Mrs Carnell. When it comes time to think of the budget next time, do not make this same mistake. Do not adopt this salami-slicing approach that Mr Humphries talked about, although you suggested a different approach. Take care, because we really are cut to the bone.

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