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

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 2071 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

Further, in relation to the $2.5m that was slipped in, I believe every member of this Assembly, before they sign on to another $2.5m on Bruce Stadium, ought to see the most up-to-date estimates of the income and expenditure through time on this stadium. More and more money is being spent - the Government's own brief is $44m - and the $2.5m is on top of that. This $2.5m does not get a run in the brief. We, as an Assembly, need to be assured that this thing is going to be back on track. So I want to know where we are starting from, exactly how much has been spent, where this $2.5m is going to be spent, why there is - - -

Ms Carnell: And if I tell you, will you support it? No.

MR QUINLAN: No. I have to put it in the nicest way, given the argy-bargy across the floor today, but you will have to forgive me for saying that I actually would need a little bit more independent assessment and opinion than we could have from you, Chief Minister, given the answers to questions in this place over about a year-and-a-half on expenditure, incomes, sales, et cetera, in relation to Bruce Stadium.

Mr Moore: If you ever find her misleading the Assembly, you can take her out easily; you know that.

MR QUINLAN: Sorry, I just have this feeling that I really want a bit more independence and a little bit more proof in the numbers that I accept.

Mr Humphries: The lack of trust is mutual, Ted.

MR QUINLAN: I was going to say that. What we do have here is a certain lack of trust. I think we can support ours a little bit better than you can support yours, with experience. You will note - and I know that it is a point of contention - that my motion sets the reporting date out at November.

Ms Carnell: So we cannot pass the budget till November. Good work, Ted!

MR QUINLAN: Just this bit.

Ms Carnell: No, the whole lot.

MR QUINLAN: Rubbish!

Ms Carnell: One bit is an amendment to the Appropriation Bill. How can you pass the Appropriation Bill and have an amendment that does not attach to anything?

MR QUINLAN: You will just have to bring forward a Bill. Is that too hard for you? You have got one here now. It did not seem too hard the first time. You can have two Bills spending the same money, not just an amendment and a Bill. You can have two Bills spending the same money. That would be good. The way I see it, just on the papers I have got, if you pass this amendment to the Appropriation Bill, having covered the past, you have got a blank cheque, and we have not wanted to give you a blank cheque lately, sorry. You will have to appreciate that.

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