Page 2863 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 22 November 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
advance, which, I suspect, we will also be voting on later in this debate. However, what we are talking about here is the issue of accountability for the spending of funds associated with the Treasurer's advance. The committee recommended at the time that "the Treasurer table on a monthly basis a statement outlining use of the Treasurer's advance".
The Government response to that was that the Public Accounts Committee was currently conducting an inquiry into the principles relating to the future financial administrations and audit legislation for the ACT and the Government chose to refer that to the Public Accounts Committee. However, while that may be so, I think it is important that the members of the Assembly receive from the Government a clear indication on a regular basis as to how this $10m is being allocated and what it is being allocated for.
It would be very easy for the money to be accounted for after a 12 months period and the Assembly would, unless something came to its attention, not be made aware of how this money had been spent. So all I am asking, Mr Speaker, is that the Government take it on notice that the recommendations of the Estimates Committee were accepted by the Assembly on the voices. I think it is not inappropriate for the ACT minority Labor Government to ensure that the Assembly is given a full account of the spending of any aspect of that $10m.
MR MOORE (4.29): I refer to page 51, program 5, where we have a sum for debt servicing of $91m. It is of great concern to me that in micro-economic terms we should already be spending such a significant amount of money on debt servicing. I think that, as a very new government, it is valid to make a comparison with a household. We already have our capital areas, we already have our house, we look at improvements and we ought to be looking to reduce what we actually spend on debt servicing. I think that needs to be said because the figure is $91m.
ADJOURNMENT
MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Whalan: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .