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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 1445 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

So, somewhere between nothing and 100 per cent. That is just not good enough in the context of this debate about the superannuation difficulties the Government says it faces. It has to be clearer than that and it ought not be overstating the issue. I suspect at this stage that the Government is overstating this issue, to arm itself with a weapon to attack the superannuation benefits that might apply to future public servants.

In the last two months we have heard that the Civic and Woden youth centres have been singled out for harsh treatment. I am concerned that we have not got to the bottom of this, in spite of efforts in the Assembly and Estimates Committee. Another issue of concern in the community sector is the implementation of the SACS award. The allocation of funds to cover the implementation of the SACS award is not forthcoming and it seems that, at a time when the disadvantaged in our community are more dependent on community organisations than ever, those same organisations are being squeezed and may have to cut services. Mr Speaker, the Civic and Woden youth centres, in my view, and in my colleague Simon Corbell's view, should have their three-year funding restored. The reason they should have their funding restored is that it is very clear from the evidence that they were singled out for harsh treatment so that the Government could demonstrate that it was in control of things and that they were not going to truck any disagreement from anybody.

In the areas of mental health and police resources, the Minister for Health and the Deputy Chief Minister released misleading information as part of the budget package. It is expected that Government Ministers will put the best gloss on their areas of the budget, but these were going a bit too far. The issue of the cuts to the Institute of the Arts was a classic example of the failure of the Government to identify its plans openly and transparently for all to see. The cuts were made without notice, the rationale offered afterwards does not stand up to scrutiny and the opposition to the cuts has resulted in a vicious attack on the institute and its staff by the Chief Minister and other Government members.

The institute was able to take up the invitation to present its case to the Estimates Committee, and I am glad it did. I am not happy with the treatment it was forced to endure. I have had to apologise for the behaviour of Mr Hird, but it has left the Assembly with a new problem to deal with. I had always believed that, when we invite members of the public to come before committees, we are committed to treating them with courtesy and respect. I am committed to that. (Extension of time granted) I was embarrassed at the way they were treated and I have taken advice on new standing orders for committees so that next time we are prepared. I have put forward a notice on motion to deal with this problem.

Floriade is a major event in Canberra. It is 10 years old and Canberrans have taken it to their hearts. It has been a great success and brings in over $20m a year in tourism. You would have thought that if any changes were in the wind the community would have been informed about it. Instead, the entry charge proposal was dumped on us at the last minute - not last November when the decision was taken, not before the election when people could make their views known, not in the budget, but halfway through the estimates, six weeks before the event, when most people from interstate had made their

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