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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 5 Hansard (6 May) . . Page.. 1552 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

area. Of the cuts to be applied over the next two years, 28 will be from the support area and 97 will be from the operations area. The percentage of support positions to operations positions currently is about 45 but the cut is about 28 per cent. The jargon used is "market testing". This phrase is used widely in the documents. It is just code for privatisation. This privatisation will affect those on very low salaries. Low-income families will be adversely affected. That has been pointed out before, but it seems that this Government just does not care as it slashes away anyway.

I note that the cost of cleaning and litter removal is to reduce by $714,000. That can only mean the elimination of general service officers from CityScape. How many of those officers are on more than $40,000 a year? Not many. The market testing and corporate restructuring are nothing more than a sale. Where is the proof?

Ms Carnell: What would you do?

Mr Berry: We would sack the Chief Minister for a start and put in decent management.

Ms Carnell: But then you would want to have another one. It is not the same.

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I call for your support and protection.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hargreaves has the call. The Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader are having an in-depth conversation. Push the mute button, if you would, as your colleague Mr Hargreaves has the call.

Ms Carnell: Could you tell him not to be boring, then?

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I ask for the Chief Minister to withdraw that remark. It was offensive and uncalled for and, for somebody who was not in the chamber for the last couple of hours, it was a bit hypocritical.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: What remark was that, Mr Hargreaves?

MR HARGREAVES: To stop being boring. I would like it withdrawn.

Ms Carnell: I said he was boring.

MR HARGREAVES: Well, do you or do you not?

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hargreaves, you have the call.

MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I will continue. But I will go back a sentence, with your indulgence. The market testing and corporate restructuring are nothing more than a sale. Where is the proof? Ms Tucker has revealed that the reduction from 180 jobs to 110 jobs in the voluntary redundancies for the Department of Urban Services is due to the engagement of 70 officers in contract management. What contracts? Where is the information in the budget papers? So much for transparency!

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