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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 3 Hansard (26 May) . . Page.. 570 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

The section 14 instrument for the Department of Urban Services relates to consolidation of environmental functions within Environment ACT. To complete this consolidation, a section 14 instrument is required to transfer water quality monitoring functions from Planning and Land Management, PALM, to Environment ACT. The section 15 instrument for the Department of Urban Services also relates to the creation of Environment ACT. The section 15 instrument allows output classes to be realigned to more accurately reflect the consolidation of environment functions under Environment ACT. The section 16 instrument relates to the transfer of the Dangerous Goods Unit from the Emergency Services Bureau to the Department of Urban Services as per the administrative arrangements orders announced on 31 March 1998. The other section 16 instrument for tabling relates to the appointment of a fifth Minister to the Executive, a Minister for Health and Community Care, in line with the administrative arrangements orders announced on 27 April 1998. The section 17 instrument relates to the Department of Education and Community Services. The department's appropriation relating to the Commonwealth grant, non-government schooling, was increased to allow for the on-passing of increased Commonwealth revenue. Mr Speaker, I commend the papers to the Assembly.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.19): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present reports prepared by Towers Perrin entitled "Report on the Financial Management of ACT Government Financed Superannuation Liabilities" and "Report on the Development of Alternative Superannuation Arrangements for the Australian Capital Territory Public Sector". I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the papers.

Today I am tabling two reports which are part of the review of superannuation for the ACT. These reports are the "Report on the Development of Alternative Superannuation Arrangements for the Australian Capital Territory Public Sector" and the "Report on the Financial Management of ACT Government Financed Superannuation Liabilities". The ACT Government commissioned the consultancy firm Towers Perrin to address two significant issues. The first issue is the way in which superannuation coverage should be provided to new staff of the ACT Public Service, after the anticipated closure of the PSS. The second issue is the financing of superannuation liabilities.

The report on superannuation coverage for new staff was prepared in the context of two Commonwealth Government decisions which will affect the ACT Public Service. These are decisions to introduce choice of superannuation fund and to close the PSS to new members. Both changes were originally intended to operate from 1 July 1998. It is important to note that the Commonwealth has not yet implemented either of these decisions. The Commonwealth has announced that the starting date for both will now be 1 July 1999, subject to the passage of enabling legislation. Even though the commencement of choice of fund and the PSS closure have been deferred to next year,

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