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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1593 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The appropriation to the Department of Justice and Community Safety provides $4.896 million for the payment of expenses on behalf of the territory to provide for the payment of claims under the criminal injuries compensation scheme. This is required as a consequence of the delay in passing amendments to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1983 to introduce support services for victims rather than lump sum payments for pain and suffering.

Since the amendments were passed on 23 December 1999 there has been the expected decrease in the number of claims and payments for criminal injuries compensation. This trend is expected to continue, and the budget forecast for 2000-2001 reflects this trend. However, prior to the passage of the amendments, there continued to be a high level of claims and payments during the first half of the year. This has resulted in an additional funding requirement of $4.896 million, which will increase the overall expenditure estimate to $8.415 million for 1999-2000.

Mr Speaker, the government recognises the significant financial impact of these issues. Both individual items represent a significant call on the 1999-2000 budget. I believe that both the size and significance of these issues warrant Assembly scrutiny and accountability.

The Assembly has previously voiced its preference that such issues be the subject of a supplementary appropriation. Accordingly, this government has introduced a supplementary Appropriation Bill to ensure full accountability and transparency to the Assembly and the ACT community.

I also table a supplementary budget paper, as required under section 13 of the Financial Management Act 1996, which provides details of the variations proposed for the two affected departments-that is, the Department of Urban Services and the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The supplementary paper also includes a full set of revised financial statements for each of the three agencies affected, including ACTION.

Members will notice that the supplementary budget papers provide two sets of financial statements for each affected agency. These present both the variation or adjustment to the financial position, plus the revised financial statements.

The FMA requires that the supplementary budget papers show the variation from the 1999-2000 published budget. These statements therefore do not take into account issues incorporated in either the draft 2000-01 budget or the final 2000-01 budget tabled today, unless they relate to the issues specifically addressed by this supplementary appropriation.

Mr Speaker, I commend this bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Quinlan ) adjourned.

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