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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 6 Hansard (17 June) . . Page.. 1941 ..
MRS BURKE
(continuing):But if we are to continue to maintain this level of dedication, and encourage new volunteers, it is crucial that we find ways and means of supporting, training and nurturing the volunteer ethic.
I suggest that Mr Stanhope take a leaf out of his own book when he quoted George Bernard Shaw, who said:
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, the being a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I implore the government and, in particular, the Chief Minister to consider their decision for Volunteering ACT.
I commend the committee on their work, Mr Speaker. I commend the secretariat, too, for the hard work that has gone into this-some 90 hours of work and 12 hours of deliberation. I think they deserve a medal and I appreciate their efforts.
MR QUINLAN
(Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism and Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming) (4.46): For all that, I suppose this is an annual event, an annual set piece, a time to roll out the superlatives-a superlative fest. I have to congratulate the Leader of the Opposition. It is the first time I have heard a string of superlatives given in his own report, before he gave the negative superlatives to the budget. I think he described his report as remarkable. When you come down to it, there is not a lot said.I must respond to Mrs Cross, who, by some convoluted logic that I cannot follow, inferred that I somehow exonerated Mrs Carnell. Let me go on record as saying that Mrs Carnell was involved in the expenditure of non-appropriated funds and was directly involved in the arrangement of an overnight loan that could have had no other purpose than to disguise the first misdemeanour. Forget all the other accusations levelled in the 13 or 14-part audit report. Don't forget them as in letting her off-but there is sufficient in that.
I want to talk only about matters relating to the budget itself and a few of the first recommendations. I thank Mr Smyth for allowing me the opportunity to address those in question time. They talked about bringing us up to date. I made the point that it is a moveable feast and that there is some commonsense in periodic reporting and, I believe, in the reporting of major shifts, should they occur from time to time. Other than that, it is just not possible to keep a meter operating.
I notice that Mr Cornwell has become the champion of self-funded retirees. I guess, Mr Cornwell, you are looking for a constituency, to get through again. Is there something wrong with your retirement plan that you need to hang in another time?
Mr Cornwell
: No-it is called justice.MR QUINLAN
: I do not know what is meant by "low income self-funded retiree".
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