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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 1957 ..

MR WHITECROSS: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. The Minister seemed to be able to anticipate public consultation on some aspects of the report but not on others. So, Minister, I assume that you have not made a final decision on whether to implement it; but can you assure this Assembly and the community that, in making your decision, you will be acting in the public interest and not in the interests of the private company which currently manages the Civic pool and which is a sister company to the company that did the report?

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Whitecross, I think this Government always does its absolute best to act in the public interest. I think you can rest assured of that. Also, in terms of that particular company, I refer you back to the Auditor-General's report in relation to that, in relation to the selection of LRM and, indeed, in relation to the selection of, I think, all four successful private contractors for four out of the five government-run swimming facilities in the Territory.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Earlier this month - - -

Mr Berry: You can just use the card if you want to get out.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Littlewood is asking the question.

MRS LITTLEWOOD: Now, now, Mr Berry! Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Earlier this month the Government announced that it was establishing a new Territory-owned corporation named CanDeliver - more than the Opposition can - to bid for Commonwealth outsourcing contracts on behalf of local small- and medium-sized businesses. Can the Chief Minister inform members what progress has been made on this initiative and what has been the response from the business community and others?

Mr Whitecross: Mr Speaker, further to Mr Humphries's point of order just a moment ago: This sounds remarkably like the announcement of Government policy, which you specifically ruled out of order in relation to my question. Mr Speaker, Mrs Littlewood has just invited the Chief Minister to announce Government policy; that is, she asked what progress is being made in relation to the CanDeliver matter. That is clearly a request to announce Government policy and is as out of order as the question I asked.

MR SPEAKER: If there is any Government policy involved in the question, then the Chief Minister will avoid making any reference to it, because that would be out of order. I would give her the same advice as I gave Mr Stefaniak.

MRS CARNELL: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. The fact is that the question started with the words, "Earlier this month the Government announced the policy". I think poor old Mr Whitecross cannot handle two sentences in a row. Mr Speaker, the policies of the Commonwealth Government in outsourcing many of its functions will see a considerable number of jobs shift from the public sector to the private sector.

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