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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 7 Hansard (18 June) . . Page.. 1803 ..

MR WHITECROSS: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. I think Mrs Carnell might be getting confused between the issue of retention rates in ACT schools and the issue of New South Wales paying for students in ACT schools. Part of my question was: Can you table any analysis relating to the cost of servicing New South Wales students, compared to what the Grants Commission are paying us? There must be some analysis if you know that there are 1,200 students. Can you confirm that any attempt to directly charge New South Wales for ACT services provided to New South Wales residents may be of limited value and result only in a corresponding cut to general revenue grants?

MRS CARNELL: At this stage, the views of the departments are that the extra revenue to the ACT from Education directly could be in the vicinity of $3m to $4m. In Health the figure is about $16m. The reason that the figure in Health is so much higher is that New South Wales has refused to pay the ACT any component for the amount of money that we have to put into capital to service the 25 to 30 per cent of patients that use our hospital system. Yes, I am certainly in a position right now to table the statistics with regard to Health. We are currently in the position of working up the figures with regard to Education.

There are also a number of other services that are provided to New South Wales residents in the area, such as community services, community care and so on. I think it is very interesting to hear that those people opposite believe that somehow this is not an appropriate way to go. I think they would find that residents of the ACT, taxpayers of the ACT, are no longer willing - - -

Opposition members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Hird: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I draw your attention to standing orders 39 and 37. In particular, under standing order 37, I ask you to take control of this chamber.

MR SPEAKER: I was trying to do so when you interrupted.

Mr Hird: Keep that rabble quiet, sir.

MR SPEAKER: The Chief Minister is answering the question.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am surprised that those opposite seem to think the issue of charging both New South Wales and the Federal Government is something of a joke.

Opposition members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister has the floor.

MRS CARNELL: Those on this side of the house simply do not believe that the people of the ACT should any longer have to foot the bill for looking after people from New South Wales who pay their taxes to New South Wales.

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