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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 407 ..


MR QUINLAN (continuing):

For example, the estimate of general government operating surplus for fiscal 2004 is now about A$100 million (or about 5% of projected operating revenue) less than originally projected.

The reason for this opinion is the fiscal approach of the Liberal government:

... the previous government had already significantly loosened the purse strings in the May 2001 budget.

Which is what we inherited.

In the lead-up to the election last year the Liberal government had little choice, in the face of the multitude of mishaps and fiascos, such as the implosion, the inquiry into disability services, the Bruce stadium-now the Canberra Stadium-except to try to drum the mantra that it had a steady hand on the tiller. I frequently repudiated that claim and do again, as evidenced by their handling of the ACT budget, with its shopping list for the election.

Standard and Poor's have endorsed the future government direction while simultaneously identifying the failing of the former Liberal government, with their not so steady and shaky hand on the tiller.

Litter

MR CORNWELL: Time to get down and dirty. My question is to the Minister for Urban Services. The roundabout at Parkes Way and Coranderrk Street looks like a rubbish tip at the moment, with plastic glass bottles, papers, other rubbish. The pond obviously suffered from last week's storm. Don't you think it's about time that your department got into a gallop rather than a trot and started clearing it up? This, after all, is an important area of the ACT. We have had a lot of trouble in the past, with complaints about litter. It seems to me that you and your department are remiss in not acting upon it already. May I have an answer, please?

MR WOOD: Indeed, I observed that yesterday. Mr Quinlan is giving me an option for what caused it, which is not what you are asking. I had put it down to the very heavy rain a few days before, washing the litter down. There was another suggestion.

I did not contact Urban Services to say I had seen this mess-perhaps I should have-because I would have expected the services they operate to have cleaned it up yesterday. If that has not happened, it is an omission. I will see it is done as rapidly as possible.

Mr Stanhope: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Temporary Deputy Speakers

MR SPEAKER: I wish to inform the Assembly that, pursuant to standing order 8, I have nominated Mrs Cross, Ms Tucker and Mr Hargreaves as Temporary Deputy Speakers. They will take the chair when requested by either me or the Deputy Speaker. I present my warrant nominating Mrs Cross, Ms Tucker and Mr Hargreaves.


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