Page 1131 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 August 1989
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secured by tender; who are they, or who is it, if it is a company; is there a continuing expense; and what arrangements were made to ensure total confidentiality with respect to the preparation of the budget?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Collaery for the question. Yes, Mr Speaker, the Government was indeed of the view that it needed to put a great deal of effort into explaining to the people of the ACT its budget and the unique budget process in which we have engaged, and it was therefore appropriate to hire an expert in this field. The register of consultants which is maintained by the ACT Administration was examined, and a number of consultants were considered.
The advice given to the Government was that Mr Bennett's company had the most appropriate expertise for this specific task and that it was available to commence work immediately. The costs involved were consistent with those charged by comparable consultants, and the contract engaged in was limited to $10,000. It is expected that the costs involved will be considerably less than that amount.
MR COLLAERY: I wish to ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Is the consultancy continuing? Does the Government propose to use a consultant to prepare its final budget, or the consultant's final budget?
MS FOLLETT: Mr Speaker, the consultancy is not continuing; it has been completed. No, we will not be engaging a further consultancy.
Bus Service to Canberra Grammar School
MRS NOLAN: My question is directed to the Minister responsible for Industry, Employment and Education. Why are the Canberra Grammar School students - and there are at least 135 - from the Tuggeranong Valley being discriminated against with no school bus service being provided from the valley to the Canberra Grammar School?
MR WHALAN: Mr Speaker, the Government attempts to be even-handed in its involvement in the provision of bus services to children attending schools out of their residential areas. To that end, within the limited resources of the ACTION bus service and within the subsidy for bus travel which is provided by the Department of Education, there is a constant effort to ensure that that provision is applied as equitably as possible across the total community.
MRS NOLAN: I wish to ask a supplementary question. Is it the only college on the south side of Canberra that does not have such a bus service from the Tuggeranong Valley?
MR WHALAN: I must say quite honestly, Mr Speaker, that I do not know, but I will find out and let Mrs Nolan know.
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