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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 9 Hansard (23 November) . . Page.. 2461 ..

MR CONNOLLY (continuing):

premised on $3m as a revenue item into Urban Services this year. The fact is that that auction was bungled. Controversy surrounded it. There was a general smell about that auction. The reserve price was quoted to the Estimates Committee, although Mr De Domenico, after the failure, was backing away from that statement at a million miles an hour. The fact is that your budget estimate was $300,000.

I see that the gag is going on again over there. We want to hear from Mr Hird, but the gag is being put on by Liberal members. We want to hear from Mr Hird the full business about this auction. We want to hear his defence. We do not want this constant Stalinist gagging that is going on here. People should see what is going on in the Liberal benches.

Mr Speaker, the budget is premised on a $3m revenue item and, as a result of the bungling of this Government, that revenue item is, in fact, a $2.4m revenue item. There is a gap of $600,000 in that budget. Mr De Domenico boasts of an overall increase in Urban Services of $1.1m. More than half of that was blown away with this bungled auction. We still have not heard Mr Hird's defence, and probably will not if the gag goes on. So, Mr Speaker, when are we going to get the amendment to this budget, which is clearly necessary if all the budget projections are to be met, which fixes up this $600,000 hole; or are we to assume that that is already identified as an item in the Treasurer's Advance that will be transferred into Urban Services?

Mr Hird: So you are saying that our ACT Chief Minister does not know what she is talking about.

MR CONNOLLY: Come on, up you get. We will give you unlimited time.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR OSBORNE (10.40): I rise to support any proposed amendment by the Government in relation to the budget for the Department of Urban Services. If you feel like putting it on you have my support, Tony. I, too, would like to hear from Mr Hird about the taxi plate auction with a difference. I would love you to get up, Harold, and tell us what went wrong.

Members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I have two questions. I would like to reiterate my colleague Mr Moore's question. Mr De Domenico, can you guarantee that the grass will continue to be cut at the same standard as it is now?

Mr De Domenico: As long as it grows, we will cut it, mate.

Mr Kaine: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Would you point out to Mr Osborne that this is not question time.

MR SPEAKER: Proceed, Mr Osborne.

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