Page 2717 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 23 June 2009

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that that is the next step needed in getting a public transport system that works for Gungahlin. I wish to put it on the record that I very much regret that we did not put light rail into Gungahlin when it was originally built. It has been a tragedy for the ACT that that opportunity was lost. Outer suburbs in general have very poor public transport in Canberra. I am fortunate that I live in the inner north and it is quite reasonable, but for the people who have to go from their suburb to one interchange and then to another interchange and then possibly out to another suburb you are talking about hours and hours.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: The time for the matter of public importance has expired.

Climate Change, Environment and Water—Standing Committee

Reference

Motion (by Ms Hunter), by leave, agreed to:

That the resolution of the Assembly of 11 December 2008, which referred the issue of ACT greenhouse gas reduction targets to the Committee for inquiry and report, be amended by omitting “30 July 2009” and substituting “17 September 2009”.

Appropriation Bill 2009-2010

[Cognate paper:
Estimates 2009-2010—Select Committee report—government response]

Detail stage

Schedule 1—Appropriations.

Proposed expenditure—Part 1.3—Auditor-General, $2,112,000 (net cost of outputs), totalling $2,112,000.

Debate resumed.

MR HANSON (Molonglo) (4.35): Resuming, as I am, after lunch, I remind you that we were talking about the Auditor-General and we had the response from Mr Corbell, who had been given the opportunity to talk in his Chief Minister’s defence about the extraordinary attack on the Auditor-General. He had the opportunity to defend the reduction in funding in real terms that means that the Auditor-General will only be able to, in future, conduct six audits rather than eight. Rather than defend that issue and explain it, no, he went on a line of attack. He tried to attack the Greens and the Liberals on what their position on the budget was and demanded that we put that on the record. I think that we are on the record and I think that the record quite clearly says that we will not be voting for the budget and the Greens will be. We have made that issue quite clear.

It was a pretty extraordinary attack but, to be honest, it is the way the government, if they are criticised about anything, and we see this with the Auditor-General, will