Page 4348 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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MS BURCH: I have one for the Treasurer. In light of the threats to the ACT budget from a reassessment of the GST, is it the environment in which to consider reopening closed schools?
Mr Seselja: Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. I do not believe that supplementaries can come with preambles.
MR SPEAKER: Preamble aside, I invite you to reframe your question, Ms Burch. Mrs Dunne asked a fairly specific question. I would like you to reframe your question in that context.
Mr Stanhope: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: the question related to threats to the ACT budget as a result of a reassessment by the Grants Commission of GST payments. It seems to me that that is perfectly relevant and pertinent to the range of questions that have been asked of the minister, in this question and in previous questions.
Mrs Dunne: On the point of order, Mr Speaker: my question was specifically in relation to the allowance for volunteer firefighters. It was not a broad ranging question. I note that the minister could not answer those questions about firefighters. I would submit that Ms Burch’s supplementary question is entirely out of order because it does not relate to the original question.
MR SPEAKER: I think Mrs Dunne has articulated my reasoning quite well. Ms Burch, would you like to reframe your question? If not, Mr Smyth, a supplementary question?
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Treasurer, in the event that this allowance is removed, what plans have you made to take account of this loss of funds in retaining volunteer firefighters?
MS GALLAGHER: This again is a hypothetical question: what would you do if this allowance is removed?
MR SPEAKER: Therefore you do not have to answer it if you wish.
MS GALLAGHER: Thank you.
Global financial crisis
MS PORTER: My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, one year on from the emergence of the global financial crisis, can you advise the Assembly on the state of the ACT economy?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank members for the important question. This is, as usual, the time for the opposition to stop listening because there is actually some promising news in terms of the state of the ACT economy. As members would know, the global financial crisis had a very significant impact on economic development in the ACT. Thankfully, I think Australians have benefited greatly from the federal government’s
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