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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (1 September) . . Page.. 1710 ..

MR BERRY (9.47): I was reading from the Government's answer in relation to this matter. Most of the things I said were in reference to the answer that was given by the Chief Minister.

Ms Carnell: It just means that you do not understand it.

MR BERRY: I understand, Chief Minister. I understand when the Government is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the community and will not provide adequate information in relation to superannuation. The community is entitled to have the right amount of money put aside. The Government does not know. The best it can come up with is that it is something less than 100 per cent. You reckon that I do not understand. Come on, what a joke! We want more clarity, Chief Minister, and you are not providing it.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (9.48): Mr Speaker, it may assist the Assembly to understand this issue if I quote from the Government's response to the Estimates Committee report. It states:

The committee's description of the difference between the amount paid by agencies and the amount retained in the Superannuation Provision as "leakage" ignores the fact that this is an increase in funding, not a reduction.

I think that is part of the confusion that Mr Berry has.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Part 8 - Department of Health and Community Care

Proposed expenditure - Health and Community Care, $342,829,000 (comprising net cost of outputs, $303,639,000; capital injection, $30,617,000; and payments on behalf of Territory, $8,573,000)

MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (9.49): I commented earlier on what I regarded as some negative aspects of the way in which the Estimates Committee procedures were conducted. I indicated that it was the first time I had appeared in Estimates Committee hearings, so it was a learning experience. I found it a very productive experience. I mentioned that one of the concerns I had was the haste with which some Ministers cut off their officials and chose to answer on behalf of officials quite legitimate questions about policy and management issues. Mr Moore was not in the chamber then, but I did comment that health was one portfolio where I was prepared to commend the Minister on his preparedness to let his officials speak for themselves. I acknowledge that to the Minister, much as it pains me. I think it is a fair comment that it was - - -

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