Page 4346 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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MS GALLAGHER: Why has the commission made that finding? I imagine that is a question better directed to the commission itself, but I will see if Treasury can provide any further information on that for you.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Coe, a supplementary question?
MR COE: Thank you. Yes, I would appreciate that additional information and I would like to also know what arguments you use to support the retention of the allowance and the subsidy that is provided to ACTION.
MS GALLAGHER: Again I will check to see how those discussions have been handled. Are we going to go through, line by line, every area of expenditure?
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: What I could do for the opposition, if they were genuinely interested, is provide them with a briefing—none of what has been asked for by the shadow Treasurer. He actually puts a media release out and says, “Oh, the world’s falling in. What’s happening? Nothing’s happening.” But guess what: he has not actually asked to be briefed on it. He does not ask for any of the additional information. And what—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: What I am saying is that I am very happy to provide you with a briefing. If we are going to go through—
Opposition members interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: I would suggest a more efficient way of dealing with it, if there is genuine interest in every line by line part of the submission that has been put by the ACT government, we can have a full briefing for the opposition—if they are interested and if they are in at work on that day.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary question?
MR SMYTH: Treasurer, in the event that this allowance is removed, what plans have you made to take account of the loss of these funds for ACTION?
MS GALLAGHER: The process has reached this point: there is a draft report, submissions have been finalised in terms of state and territory jurisdictions, and those are now being considered by the commission. I understand the commission may seek to have further discussions with state and territory jurisdictions. In fact, I know that they are having discussions with state and territory jurisdictions as they finalise their considerations in February.
I am not going to sit here and speculate about what the Commonwealth Grants Commission may or may not find in the interests of the ACT. I do not think that is a good use of everybody’s time at this point. It is about seeking to have our arguments
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