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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 10 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3692 ..

MRS CROSS (continuing):

I wonder about the end-of-the-year bottom line. Has the government been honest about the bottom line? What will the deficit be for the financial year 2003-04? Why is the government not able to budget a year ahead? I hope we will not move through to June 2004 in eight-week lots. It makes me think that the executive is like a child who has spent all his birthday money and who has come running back to his parents for more so that he can afford the new G. I. Joe. How many more times will the government be back?

This Appropriation Bill deals in the main with additional bushfire expenses. When I last checked my calendar I established that the bushfires occurred before the introduction of the last Appropriation Bill. The government should not blame that on the McLeod report; it knew that McLeod would hand down recommendations and that those recommendations would cost money. Why did the government not plan ahead and deal with those expenses in the first Appropriation Bill? Wage rises were also in the pipeline, so why was no provision made for them? This is either a lazy or a sneaky way of running Treasury.

On the morning of the day on which the last Appropriation Bill for 2002-03 was dealt with the 2003-2004 budget was announced. When will we receive the last Appropriation Bill for this financial year? How many more Appropriation Bills will this government introduce? What will be the true deficit at the end of June next year? I welcome the amendments moved by Mr Smyth, which I believe will add an increased level of accountability to the entire budgetary process.

MR PRATT (11.49): I speak today in debate on the government's Appropriation Bill 2003-2004 No 2. As Mr Smyth pointed out, we do not seek to impede the passage of this bill; it is imperative that it is enacted quickly, as the safety of the community is dependent on a viable and responsive emergency management system. I have a number of significant concerns about some of the budgetary appropriations. I encourage the government to adopt certain simple measures with a view to ensuring that these appropriations are effectively and wisely spent.

In general terms, we are concerned that the funding, while necessary, will not be wisely targeted and that a number of essential programs and activities are likely to be neglected, or not attended to urgently. There are some good initiatives for which there are wise expenditures, but we would like to see a rounding out of appropriations that will ensure that other vital areas are also addressed. This is not simply a concern about the amount of money that has been allocated; we are concerned also to ensure that the right bushfire capabilities are put in place.

The first issue to which I wish to refer relates to personnel. I am pleased that the government has come up with several initiatives to ensure that equipment is provided to volunteer personnel. A fair effort has been made to identify suitable clothing, jackets and protective gear, but I would like the government to explain whether it has earmarked funds to improve allowances that might be paid to volunteer firefighters and emergency services personnel. A major point of contention in relation to our volunteers-who, on the whole, are willing to sacrifice their time and effort-is that they are entitled to very little in the way of compensation for lost equipment and time away from work.

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