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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 10 Hansard (18 October) . . Page.. 3178 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

The point has been made in the public forum that, effectively, the budget is a government's primary political document. It is its statement of what it intends to do. It is the program that it sets for the following year. It just so happens that the one we are talking about, the year we are talking about, will overlap an election.

That would be a good idea, would it not! Why do we not all get together-the political opponents-and come up with our best ideas, set our priorities and hand them to the government! Then, about four or five months before the election, the government can bring down a budget having the best of the thoughts or deliberations of the committee. Conversely, the government could wander around during the election campaign saying, "Why didn't you bring that up in the Assembly when the opportunity arose?" The rationale behind this motion is so naive and so transparent that it is really an insult to the intelligence of the collective Assembly.

I have a feeling that this exercise will get the numbers. Let me tell you that, if this exercise does receive the numerical support of the Assembly and is adopted in the Assembly, the ALP representatives on the committee will contribute but will contribute within the confines of saying, "We are not going to sit here now, less than a year out from the election, and tell you all the things that we think should be brought into a budget in an election year."

The new Chief Minister will know, I am pretty sure, that the government is not going to present to us this far out the intended initiatives, expenditure and election campaign incentives. You are not going to bring those forward and give them to us. You are going to bring those out at a time of your choosing. We respect your right to do that. We just have to observe that you would need to respect our right to bring forward the campaign and election initiatives that we intend at a moment of our choosing. Within that rather severe parameter, we do expect to participate.

I have absolutely no respect whatsoever for the motivation behind the proposal; let me put that on record. It is quite transparent. It is pretty much high school-level politics, but it might sell. If the newspaper happens to be on your side and the newspaper wants to sell the banner of participatory democracy within the ACT, so be it; but we know, at least on this side of the chamber, that the best form of process for informing the public is the constructive tension that exists when you do have a government and an opposition and the opposition can adopt the role of devil's advocate.

When the government enjoys the resources and the accoutrements of high office and enjoys all the support of a complete administration then, in order to maintain that situation, it does have an obligation to put its political manifesto forward. We would like to hear from the government at the same time about its initiatives and its parameters.

I notice Mr Hird making comments on the side. Mr Hird, I understand that you are going to be involved in this committee. I saw a previous document where you were mentioned in dispatches and I do look forward to your contribution.

Mr Hird: I look forward to you being chairman.

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