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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (16 February) . . Page.. 187 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

of unappropriated funds to redevelop the Bruce Stadium? Would you include that one? What about the futsal slab? You cannot really complete the picture without the futsal slab, can you? No picture of the Liberal Government in the ACT is complete without the futsal slab, the little green slab down by the lake that thousands admire every day. Could we ever forget CanDeliver? I do not think we could ever forget CanDeliver. I think you should throw that in. That is a what-not-to-do as well. To cap it all off, we must throw in Feel the Power of Canberra. I think it would be excellent if you put Feel the Power of Canberra in the what-not-to-do list. And if you are really looking for something to demonstrate what not to do, throw in the Feel the Power numberplates. I reckon they were a little pearler as well. Are these the sorts of things, Chief Minister, that you will throw up as case studies in your keynote address?

MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, if there is anything to answer, you might try to answer it.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, isn't it great that my Government is regarded nationally as one of the most competent governments in this area? All of us get asked regularly to speak at these sorts of conferences, and people pay significant amounts of money to come and listen. Why? Because we are regarded as the leaders in these sorts of areas. I am proud of that. Isn't it sad that Mr Berry is so negative about everything? The reality is that he still has not got over losing two elections in a row. Boy, when he lost, he lost big time. The people of Canberra have determined that we are by far the best choice in this place, and international conference organisers also believe that we are the sort of government that should be asked regularly to speak on quite a wide range of topics - things like accrual accounting, financial management, Public Service reform. I know Mr Berry is feeling very unhappy that he has never been asked to speak on accrual accounting, management of health budgets or maybe betting systems originating from islands in the Pacific. I am very happy that we are regarded as leading in national areas and asked to speak at conferences that people pay a lot of money to go to.

MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Can the Chief Minister say whether she is being paid to address the conference or whether she is paying to address the conference? Would she advise this Assembly what rate she is being paid if she is being paid? Is it the stand-up comedian rate?

MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, you may answer what part of that you see fit.

MS CARNELL: I can answer. I really have no idea about the basis of most of these conferences, because I usually do not get into those sorts of things. If I am paid to speak, then that money goes straight back to the ACT Government. Sometimes I am paid and sometimes I am not. As this conference is in Canberra, there will not be any travelling expenses or whatever. I have to say I do not know. I will find out. Normally the way these conferences work is that they pay travelling expenses, accommodation and so on but no speakers fees. That is the normal approach. I can guarantee that I was approached to speak. We did not ask to speak. We were approached - and not for the first time - simply because we as a government are regarded as very competent.

I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper, Mr Speaker.

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