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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 2668 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

introduction of these provisions, and we continue to support it. Our support has not diminished or been watered down in any way.

It is simply a question of managing the resources, ensuring that the courts are efficient, and that all the magistrates are employed to the greatest extent possible. So there are simple management issues there. I am concerned, as we all are. I know Mr Stefaniak is concerned. He has some detailed questions on notice which I will be responding to-I hope within a few days. I apologise for the delay in relation to that, but I am determined to get all the information you sought around the management of the courts and around the straight work force issues there, as to the work the courts are doing. I look forward to those results, Mr Stefaniak, perhaps as much as you do, and the responses which might be generated as a result of them.

I am sympathetic to the points made by both Ms Dundas and Ms Tucker about the Children's Court Magistrate, in particular. The government indeed shares your views on the position.

There are a number of amendments. The government has responded to Mr Stefaniak's suggestions in relation to the explanatory memorandum and the incorporation of an additional memorandum in the memorandum. I take the point. It was a good point, and we have responded accordingly. We have circulated those. We have prepared and circulated additional explanatory memoranda.

We have a number of amendments which have been provided to all members. Members have had an opportunity to be briefed on and discuss those with us. We look forward to dealing with those in the detail stage. I thank members for their support of this important legislation.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.

Sitting suspended from 12.26 to 2.30 pm.

Questions without notice

Financial management report-June 2002

MR HUMPHRIES: I will speak slowly so the Treasurer can return to his seat for my question. Mr Treasurer, on 28 November last year, you said that it was highly likely that you had inherited a territory in deficit.

On 18 February this year, you accused the Liberal Party of creative accounting, which painted a rosier picture of our financial position than was justified, and you went on to say that our surpluses were illusory. You have made a number of other comments in the last few months deprecating the idea that the territory is in surplus.

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