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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 11 Hansard (8 December) . . Page.. 3213 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

therefore to read in yesterday's Canberra Times that the Government now apparently intends to spend much of this money not on upgrading Green Square and adjacent streets but on drainage works for which, incidentally, an additional budgetary provision of $200,000 has already been made separately. Minister, did the Canberra Times get it wrong? If so, has the Urban Services Department officer who was quoted misunderstood the Government's funding arrangements for this project?

MR SMYTH: I thank Mr Kaine for his question. Unfortunately, I have not seen that article in the Canberra Times, but the Government is certainly committed to the upgrade of Kingston.

Mr Kaine: I will give you a copy of it.

MR SMYTH: I will come and get it from you in a moment. Like Mr Kaine, I appreciate Kingston's part in Canberra's retailing history. There have been some delays with the project, partly because as it has evolved the tenants have come back with more and more suggestions. Some of the paving and the grassing works were to commence in January, but following a meeting last week and some further consultation they will now be put off till March. As to the drainage issue, Mr Kaine, I will get you some further information. I am not aware of that particular change. I will find out for you and get back to you as I can.

MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. While you are looking at it, Minister, you will note that on pages 134 and 135 of this year's Budget Paper No. 4 the budgetary provisions are quite clearly stated, and they do not coincide with what is reported in the Canberra Times. My supplementary question is: Has there been some fiddling of the budget? If there has been, has that been done with the Government's knowledge or is it just a reordering of priorities by the bureaucrats involved?

MR SMYTH: Mr Kaine, I will check on that and get back to you as quickly as I can.

MR BERRY: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, clause 11.2 of the nurses agreement, in relation to the review and renewal of agreement, states:

The parties undertake to re-open negotiations at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this agreement with a view to negotiating and settling a replacement collective agreement. The review of rates of pay envisaged under Clause 17 will be undertaken as part of these negotiations.

Clause 17 states:

The parties will review agreed relevant external markets when negotiating a replacement agreement pursuant to Clause 11.2.

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