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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (1 September) . . Page.. 1671 ..

MR SPEAKER (continuing):

Standing order 180 sets down the order in which this Bill will be considered; that is, in the detail stage any Schedule expressing the services for which the appropriation is to be made must be considered before the clauses and, unless the Assembly otherwise orders, the Schedules will be considered by proposed expenditure in the order shown. With the concurrence of the Assembly, I am proposing that the Assembly consider Schedule 1 by part and appropriation unit and departmental totals. Is this the wish of the Assembly? That being so, Schedule 1 will be considered by part, appropriation unit and departmental totals, then the clauses prior to Schedule 2 and the title.

Schedule 1 - Appropriations

Part 1 - Legislative Assembly Secretariat

Proposed expenditure - Legislative Assembly Secretariat, $6,290,000 (comprising net cost of outputs, $3,510,000; and payments on behalf of Territory, $2,780,000)

MR QUINLAN (5.06): Mr Speaker, since I have been a member of this place I have found that the services provided are exceptional. The manner in which they are delivered is excellent. I refer the Assembly to some of the recommendations in the Pettit report. Recommendation 10 deals with an extension of the Parliamentary Library; recommendation 11, a consideration of a research facility; and recommendation 15, a modest increase in secretarial support to committees. Of course, we will be supporting the passing of this line in the Appropriation Bill, but we would like to point up those recommendations and the Pettit report overall for future reference.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (5.08): Mr Speaker, the Pettit report is still before a select committee. Mr Quinlan, I assume, would know that the Legislative Assembly Secretariat budget is formed on the basis of consultation by the Administration and Procedure Committee. If the proposals are brought to the Government in the formation of the next budget, obviously we would look at them seriously - if, of course, the select committee recommends going down that path.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Part 2 - Auditor-General

Proposed expenditure - Auditor-General, $886,000 (comprising net cost of outputs, $886,000)

MR QUINLAN (5.09): As chairman of the committee incorporating the PAC, I must say that I am getting through the backlog of audit reports from over a year-and-a-half ago that we have inherited. However, I have found that they are very comprehensive and informative. The Auditor-General deserves every dollar he gets. I am sure the Government would be only too happy to provide him with more - were it only available.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

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