Page 1152 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
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If the new reserve is to be established, it is prudent that it start at the same time as the next budget and not the previous budget. The opposition has not received a satisfactory reason as to why it is needed urgently. If the Chief Minister is going to respond to this amendment, I ask him to confirm or to clarify whether the government intends to use this mechanism before 30 June.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (11.50): The reason for not supporting Mr Coe’s amendment is that it would create uncertainty, as the 2019-20 appropriation bills—which will, if this legislation is passed, include the capital works reserve—will be introduced to the Assembly prior to 1 July, prior to the date proposed by Mr Coe. So to remove any uncertainty over the legality of having the capital works reserve in the appropriation bills that will be introduced on the first Tuesday in June—prior to 1 July—commencement a day after its notification is appropriate.
In relation to use of the reserve in this current financial year, I do not believe there will be a requirement to do so, but I will take advice from agencies. If any projects are currently ahead of schedule and wish to access it, that would be open to the government, but we would report it in accordance with the reporting requirements. I do not believe that is the case; its intent is to be in the budget, the appropriation bills that will be introduced on the first Tuesday in June. For those reasons, we will not support the delay in the commencement that Mr Coe proposes.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (11.51): There would not be any uncertainty if we passed legislation today that has a start date of 1 July. That is complete certainty. It would be in black and white, in legislation, that it starts on 1 July. The only reason you would need it now is if you intended to use it before 30 June. There is no reason why you cannot put this in place and incorporate it into the budget. This happens frequently. This happened with the Integrity Commission. It starts on 1 July, but you can still make an appropriation for it in this year’s budget. There is no reason why we need it before 1 July unless the Treasurer wants to use it before that date.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (11.52): The obvious point is that new budget bills are needed to put an appropriation into the capital reserve before any agencies can use it. There are no funds in the reserve at the moment because it does not exist. It will need an appropriation bill to put funding into the reserve. That ought to address the concerns of the opposition leader. The government will not support his amendment.
Amendment negatived.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Clauses 3 to 5, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
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