Page 1516 - Week 04 - Thursday, 25 March 2010
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Our seniors grants and sponsorship program, administered through the Office for Ageing, encourages and promotes active ageing. In 2009-10, we funded a diverse range of projects worth more than $100,000 that will help older people stay connected with their community, to actively participate in recreational and cultural events, to learn and share knowledge, and to develop skills that will foster self-development and personal growth. The ACT government is committed to providing opportunities for older people to develop skills in using information communication technology and offers a number of courses through the public libraries and educational institutions.
This government is committed to promote positive ageing and making Canberra an age-friendly city, one that supports older people in our community and provides them with opportunities to contribute and participate. Seniors Week is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the enormous contribution made by older members of our community. Using our strategic plan for positive ageing as a framework, we are working with business and the community to make Canberra a more age-friendly city that maximises the quality of life for our older and most respected Canberrans.
Sitting suspended from 12.28 to 2 pm.
Questions without notice
Public service—staffing
MR SESELJA: My question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, under your guidance, the cost of the public service has grown by an average of $10 million per month every month during the last year. Was this a deliberate component of your strategy to deal with seven years of deficits?
MS GALLAGHER: As I went to this issue yesterday, the increases in expenditure under the budget update have been largely technical. They have related to reviews of assets—a large component, $33 million a year; an actuarial reassessment of our superannuation—$11½ million a year. Those are matters that are outside the control of the government and they have—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Members, the Treasurer is answering the question.
MS GALLAGHER: an expenditure impact on the budget. The work that we have done is to put in place a budget plan, a seven-year—
Mrs Dunne: A point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Order, Ms Gallagher. Stop the clocks.
Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, the question that Mr Seselja asked was directly about the cost of staff and payroll.
MS GALLAGHER: I didn’t hear that; was it?
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