Page 2945 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009

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was making was simply that there are big issues in front of the world and there is not a simple answer. But it was a very entertaining speech and he was a very competent individual in the way that he delivered it.

But let me go to the conference itself. It is always worth going to. There is a lot of exchange between members of the various PACs about what they are doing and the way they conduct their business in their jurisdictions. There is a lot of interaction with auditors-general.

I would like to thank the secretary for producing a wonderful report from a good conference.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Leave of absence

Motion (by Mr Barr) agreed to:

That leave of absence be granted for all Members from the conclusion of this sitting until 17 August 2009.

Appropriation Bill 2009-2010

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

Detail stage

Debate resumed from 23 June 2009.

Schedule 1—Appropriations.

Proposed expenditure—Part 1.5—Department of Territory and Municipal Services, $312,574,000 (net cost of outputs), $273,752,000 (capital injection) and $385,000 (payments on behalf of the territory), totalling $586,711,000.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I remind members that when debating order of the day No 1, executive business, they may also address their remarks to the government response to the estimates report.

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (11.25): As I was cut off in mid-sentence last Tuesday night, I was complimenting the minister on the thoroughness of his answers to questions in relation to pest plants and animals and was about to say that, if he could provide such thorough answers to questions in relation to pest plants and animals, I wonder why he could not do the same in relation to my questions on urban trees.

He did make the point, in answer to questions, that members of this place would be receiving a briefing, which was not forthcoming. Briefings are important and useful, but briefings are essentially private matters and do not put issues on the public record, as do answers to questions on notice; so I am anticipating and expecting that I will receive thorough answers to my questions on notice in the near future.