Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (17 February) . . Page.. 223 ..

Mr Kaine: What policy was that in?

MS CARNELL: It was in the arts policy. Mr Kaine actually stood for election on that policy. In February 1998 the then Minister for Arts, Mr Humphries, announced that consideration would be given to the relocation of visual arts organisations to this site. At that time the Ainslie infants school was identified for consideration as a possible site. When governments put out policies during election campaigns, guess what departments do? They investigate those policies and they do what the Minister actually asks them to do.

I know that this is an unusual view, Mr Speaker, but it was part of our arts policy going into the last election. Mr Humphries was very up front about that. The identification of Ainslie infants school was on the public record, and I can guarantee that the departments that were responsible for that - the Arts Department and Education - did all of the appropriate work and definitely knew about the proposal.

MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker, but I am not quite sure which Minister to direct it to.

MR SPEAKER: Just ask it. Somebody will answer it.

MR BERRY: The Government is starting to look like a big chook raffle. Can any Minister - - -

Mr Moore: I take a point of order about supplementary questions, under standing order 118. Mr Speaker, a supplementary question is supposed to be about a response to the way the answer was given. Therefore, Mr Berry would have no choice but to put his supplementary question to the Chief Minister.

MR SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order, I suppose.

MR BERRY: I suppose you can if you like. I am quite happy for any Minister to have a bit of a crack at it. Someone who is not sure might want to flick it to someone who is only a little unsure. Can any Minister - I would prefer it if it was the Minister responsible - confirm that the complete lack of consultation with Mr Stefaniak's department over this matter resulted in the department having to reprioritise its minor new capital works budget to accommodate costs of over $250,000 for the relocation of the Ainslie after-school program and the SIEC program? Can you confirm that it was the first time?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am happy to answer that question. Policies that you go to elections on are things that you actually implement and departments actually back you up in implementing. Departments support governments in implementing their election policies. That is actually their job. Reprioritising minor capital works is something that is done - - -

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .