Hansard - ACT Legislative Assembly

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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 391 ..

MR SMYTH: I will have to take that portion of the question on notice as well. I am not aware of what procedures they have. We have a process under which they have to get an environmental authorisation before they can release this water. Testing is done to make sure it is of an acceptable standard for release. That process has been followed and, as evidenced by last night's rain, quite wisely so, so the fresh rainfall also has time to settle in the ponds before that water is released into the Murrumbidgee.

Draft budget initiatives

MR HIRD: I refer to some comments made by Mr Quinlan on ABC radio on 26 February, when he said that the government was going to spend a fistful of dollars in this election year.

MR SPEAKER: Are you asking me?

MR HIRD: Can the Chief Minister and Treasurer assure the parliament that the territory can afford the commitments set out in the draft budget initiatives?

MR HUMPHRIES: I can certainly promise that. I know that this has been a painful process for some of those opposite.

Mr Quinlan: It has been a sham process

MR HUMPHRIES: You would say that, wouldn't you, Mr Quinlan?

Mr Quinlan: What is today's number?

MR HUMPHRIES: Today's number is still $344 million, I am sorry to tell you.

Mr Quinlan: You know that is a lie, don't you?

MR HUMPHRIES: No, it is not. You tell the Auditor-General it is a lie, Mr Quinlan, and you find out what he says about it.

Mr Quinlan: It occurred during a Carnell government, Mr Humphries. It includes abnormal expenditure.

MR HUMPHRIES: So it is the right figure, is it?

Mr Quinlan: It was not inherited from Labor. It was manufactured.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Quinlan, I would be very reluctant to have to deal with you for constant interjections.

HUMPHRIES: The government is certainly able to afford all the commitments it is making in its draft budget initiatives. Why? Because it has produced a surplus. The surplus is what we are spending. We are not borrowing. We are not dipping into reserves. We are not converting our assets. We are using a surplus. That surplus is going to provide substantial benefits to the people of this territory. It is a surplus which is being put to good use. Every promise the government has made and will make from that

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