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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (14 November) . . Page.. 3642 ..

Privileges committee report

MRS CROSS: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, we have all been shocked and shaken by the revelation in the privileges committee report this morning that a Liberal staffer was found in contempt of this Assembly. I note also that there are media reports that Mr Strokowsky has now resigned. Chief Minister, I was just wondering what your actions would be as a political leader if you found a member of your staff had engaged in the same behaviours as Mr Strokowsky did.

MR SPEAKER: I think that is a hypothetical question, Mrs Cross. I regret that it is out of order because it is hypothetical.

Before we go to further questions, I inform members of the presence in the gallery of two parliamentary officers from the national parliament of East Timor, Mr Armando Machado and Mr Jamie Xavier, who are taking part in a training program run by the Australian National Group of the Interparliamentary Union. On behalf of Assembly members, I welcome you.

WorkCover annual report

MR PRATT: Mr Speaker, my question is addressed to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Minister, in the WorkCover annual report for 2001-02, there is considerable comment on the fallout from the collapse of HIH. A major issue with this collapse concerns the quantum of claims that will have to be funded. The annual report notes that the initial estimate for outstanding liabilities for the fund was around $64 million. The report then comments that this estimate has been revised down to $56 million following an updated report on the actuarial assessment.

The annual report shows that Taylor Fry conducted the original actuarial assessment but the report does not indicate who conducted the updated assessment. Minister, can you advise the Assembly who conducted the updated assessment, and will you table both the original actuarial assessment and the updated assessment?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I do not have those details to hand. I will take the question on notice and get back to the member.

Education costs

MS DUNDAS: My question is for the Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services. Minister, there has been a lot of attention recently around the escalating costs of educating children in the public education system. Can you please inform the Assembly what the government is doing to keep the cost of extra-curricular activities affordable for low-income families.

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, the government has a range of measures in place to allow schools, particularly schools which we know service communities with particular socioeconomic disadvantage, to ensure that children at those schools are not disadvantaged in programs that may require some additional costs. For example, there is the school equity fund, which provides small amounts of money-not huge amounts of money, but some level of financial support-to schools, recognising the particular

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