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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (24 May) . . Page.. 1662 ..
MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):
Mr Humphries justly expressed pride that the Carnell Government has achieved a balanced Budget with modest projected surpluses to restore the overall government finances of the Territory. It will pose a challenge to Opposition Leader Jon Stanhope. To be a credible alternative Government he will have to fit his policies and promises into that context and subject them to the rigours of accrual accounting. The discipline will be good for the Territory.
Another interesting comment has come from an ANU economics lecturer, Dr Robert Albon. At the budget breakfast this morning he said:
The government must be applauded on the fiscal responsibility and broader community focus of this budget compared with some earlier ones with which I am familiar.
When I was rather active in looking at ACT budgets in the early to mid-1990s I was constantly disturbed by the way the then government's-
to whom was he referring, Mr Speaker?-
squandered the ACT's transitional funding from the Commonwealth and focused strongly on the interests of the dominant public sector unions in transport, health and education-not the broader community interest.
That is an interesting comment, Mr Speaker.
Finally, Access Economics, from whom I was not actually expecting any accolades in respect of this particular budget, said that-
Members interjecting-
MR SPEAKER: Order! I did not hear that, Mr Treasurer. Would you mind repeating it?
MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, I will, Mr Speaker, happily.
Mr Corbell: It is all those car drivers using the buses again, that is what you said.
MR SPEAKER: I will keep asking for it to be repeated if you keep interjecting, Mr Corbell.
MR HUMPHRIES: I quote Dr Albon:
When I was rather active in looking at ACT budgets in the early to mid-1990s I was constantly disturbed by the way the then governments squandered the ACT's transitional funding from the Commonwealth and focused strongly on the interests of the dominant public sector unions in transport, health and education-not the broader community interest.
Mr Corbell: Buses, hospitals and schools.
MR HUMPHRIES: No, it was more like bus unions, hospital unions and school unions, Mr Corbell, I am afraid.
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