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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 1963 ..
MR STEFANIAK (continuing):
I suggest that you compare the costs at the Tuggeranong indoor pool with, say, the costs at the Whitlam Centre in Western Sydney or look at some of the other indoor centres around. I think you will see that our costs in Canberra, including at that facility you mentioned, compare very favourably. Also, Mr Wood, when we came in, we were paying out about $1.79m a year for the management of five facilities. We are aiming certainly to make a much better deal for the ACT taxpayer there. The whole idea behind contracting out these pools is more efficient management, providing a decent service to the public, at far less cost. Mr Wood, all the indications are that that is actually proceeding very nicely, indeed, and this Government will make significant savings as a result of measures we have taken.
MR HIRD: I would like to ask the Attorney-General a question.
Mr Berry: You will not get an answer out of him. You are wasting your time.
MR HIRD: Are you suffering from a little bit of itchy mite or something over there?
Is the Attorney-General aware of the comments made by Chief Justice Miles of the Supreme Court, who recently said that the Crimes Act overlooks one of the most fundamental objectives of sentencing, that being protection of the public? Can the Attorney explain what provisions in the Crimes Act the Chief Justice was referring to and what action the Government has taken, and is taking, to address the concerns articulated by the Chief Justice?
MR HUMPHRIES: I want to thank Mr Hird for his question - - -
Mr Berry: That question would not be asking for a legal opinion, would it?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Humphries is aware that he cannot offer a legal opinion, and he is also very aware that he cannot criticise the judiciary. He is aware of both of those things. So, we will just watch it.
Mr Berry: Mr Speaker, on a point of order: I wondered whether Mr Hird knew that he could not ask for a legal opinion. That is the point that I make.
Mr Hird: I am not asking for any legal opinion.
MR HUMPHRIES: No, Mr Speaker; I think the question - - -
MR SPEAKER: Questions should not ask Ministers for a legal opinion.
Mr Berry: Well, he did. "What is your interpretation of the law?" is what he asked him.
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