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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2599 ..

MRS LITTLEWOOD (11.56): Mr Whitecross has drawn attention to my dissenting comments. That is fine. It was stated that the extraordinary dividend from ACTEW would exacerbate the PTE sector loss after payments to government. In fact, that is not correct, as the dividend payment would be made after a profit or loss was declared. The unfunded superannuation liability may be the Government's responsibility but it also impacts dramatically on the community and it is a problem for the community.

MR MOORE (11.56): I have had the opportunity of only a very short scan of the report, but I think the issues dealt with in this report are fundamental to where we are going in the Territory and whether we can get sustainable economic circumstances unless we wrestle with, and come to a conclusion about, how we deal with the operating loss. It is a matter being raised by a number of members. I know Mr Osborne raised the matter as his prime comment on the last budget. Unless we can deal with the operating loss in an effective way, we simply will not have a sustainable budget. That is the challenge for us all over the next short while. I hope that when I have the chance to read through the committee's report carefully I will find that it deals with those issues.

I hope that debate on this report will be adjourned. Perhaps we can also find a way for the Government to deal with Report No. 27 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts as well. It seemed to slip through the Assembly a few moments ago without the debate being adjourned. I think that we should find a way to make sure that the Government considers it appropriately and responds to it.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Carnell) adjourned.

MR MOORE (11.58): Mr Speaker, I present Report No. 32 of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, entitled "Attendance of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment at the 1997 National Conference of Parliamentary Public Works and Environment Committees", together with a copy of extracts of the minutes of proceedings. I move:

That the report be noted.

The Standing Committee on Planning and Environment attended a meeting in Queensland. It was an opportunity for members of parliament from around Australia to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest. Delegates attended from the Commonwealth and all Australian States other than Western Australia. You may recall, Mr Speaker, that this is the same conference that the ACT Assembly, through your goodwill, hosted last year.

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