Page 815 - Week 03 - Thursday, 2 April 2020

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The Assembly voted—

Amendment negatived.

Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Appropriation Bill 2019-2020 (No 2)

Debate resumed.

MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (5.14): The opposition will be supporting this appropriation bill and the amendments that the Treasurer is proposing. COVID-19 poses significant health and economic challenges for the nation and for each state and territory. The amendments being put forward today provide an additional appropriation of $63 million in total for the ACT’s local hospital network and the Health Directorate. Bolstering the capacity of the health system is obviously required, as per all the minister’s statements. The amendments also increase the Treasurer’s advance from $53 million to $220 million. This is required in order to meet the costs of the assistance measures that the ACT government has announced.

I note that, although it seems like a long time ago, when the public accounts committee was reviewing the appropriation bill there were a number of concerns that were highlighted in those hearings, most notably the fact that it did seem that on several occasions some of the money that is being appropriated today has indeed already been spent. That was of concern to the committee, as I recall, not being on it. Certainly, members of the committee did express concern in their questions to establish those facts. That is a worry. Having said that, there are, of course, many other issues that we are dealing with at the moment.

I am pleased that the appropriation bill did get a chance to go before the public accounts committee, unlike much of the other spending that we are seeing at the moment. That is why the new committee that has just been established will play a very important role in scrutinising expenditure, particularly from the Treasurer’s advance but from any other appropriations that are brought forward.

The Canberra Liberals are supportive of allowing the government flexibility in responding to this evolving crisis. But, as I have said on many occasions today, it is dependent upon having proper scrutiny and transparency measures. We want to work collaboratively with the government to ensure that we get the best possible

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