Page 3853 - Week 12 - Thursday, 23 November 2006
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Yes, that is one way of seeking to balance the budget in the territory—recognise that half the budget is salaries and wages. If you drive them down, you reduce the quality of our public services. You can do it by reducing the pay levels to staff.
We are seeking through a sensible wages policy to ensure not only that we have staff within the ACT public service appropriately paid in a competitive manner but also that we have quality services. But that means making some difficult decisions about, as I say, this fundamental issue of quality versus quantity. We see it in the schools; we see it in the libraries; we see it in a whole range of services.
We have to own up to the fact that the current arrangements are not sustainable. The minister has sought to address this issue. The government has invested significantly in library services. There is no doubting that; no-one is contesting that. But in order to do that, you do need to have a rational look at the service provision across the territory. This is an incredibly difficult decision and I admire the courage of the minister in seeking to take on the debate, in seeking to address people’s concerns—to front the angry crowd. As I say, I have some personal experience about what that is like and it is difficult but it does not mean that you run away from having to confront these issues.
That is what responsible governments do. They seek to confront these issues to find sensible, commonsense ways forward that will ensure that service provision is improved where possible. That is what this minister is doing in the library service. There is no doubting that. You need only look at the $20 million investment in seeking to modernise and upgrade our public library service. Those changes that seek to bring the library service into the 21st century are difficult and require a significant investment from the government. This minister and his predecessor have been able to deliver on it, but it is not possible to do that across a number of sites.
As I say, it is a very similar issue in relation to schools. It is a quality versus quantity issue, and it is a difficult one. It is very easy for those opposite to seek to make political capital out of this. I suppose if I were in opposition it would be something that would be very tempting to do. But I am sure the shadow Treasurer has observed with some concern what happens as each of these issues comes up.
As I say, every specific measure to seek to address some of the longer-term structural issues that this territory faces is opposed by those opposite. This provides a short-term political gain, no doubt, but the question is what it does for the longer-term structural basis for this territory. The answer is that it sets it back. If we are to have some sustainability in our government services and we are to have a situation where our staff, the expenditure on whom constitutes half the total ACT budget, are appropriately paid, we have to look at these issues. I know that it has been an issue for me with teachers that those opposite have sought to capitalise on. But you just cannot keep adding money on and on without seeking to raise additional revenue. (Time expired.)
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 12.29 to 2.30 pm.
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