Page 2406 - Week 11 - Thursday, 2 November 1989

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MR KAINE: I wish to ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. First of all, I note that I did not get an answer to the question. The fact that the Minister said that it was "so far unpublished" indicated that he intended to publish it. He has not given an answer to the question. But my supplementary question to the Minister is: who carried out the research study for the Government?

MR WHALAN: I do not know, Mr Speaker, because in the report that was submitted the consultant was not identified.

Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; here is a publication published by the Minister. He talks about a report.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Kaine, you are addressing the Assembly. You must seek leave if you wish to debate the issue. This is not a point of order.

Mr Kaine: I am making a point of order, Mr Speaker, and I think I have a right to do so.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Kaine, I have ruled that that is not to be debated. The question has been answered.

Mr Kaine: I seek leave of the Assembly to make a statement on this question, in that case, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes; after question time.

Public Service

MR DUBY: My question is addressed to the Treasurer. It concerns the 6 per cent pay rise which was announced today for Commonwealth public servants and, by implication, ACT public servants. I was wondering whether she could tell us: what is the cost to the ACT Government in its salary bill of this increase - quite justified increase, I might add - for the public servants; were provisions made for salary increases of this order in her budget; will this increase in salaries affect any budget programs?

MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Duby for the question. Mr Speaker, I might take the middle of Mr Duby's question first and just assure the Assembly that in our budgeting for salaries and wages for the forthcoming year we did indeed make provision for national wage increases. The provision that has been made reflects the order of increase that has now been granted to public servants. I think the Treasury forecast was commendably accurate in that respect. So it does not present any difficulty with our budget or the budget strategy or with program estimates.

Mr Speaker, Mr Duby has asked a specific question about the cost of the public service increase. I do not have that


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