Page 291 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 1990
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to do the same thing. We will achieve it, but we will achieve it not only in the sense of the total borrowings program for capital works but also in respect of each individual project.
MS FOLLETT: In view of Mr Kaine's response on that, I would ask how the borrowings position as outlined relates to the policy that both capital and recurrent budgets be balanced.
MR KAINE: The restriction on borrowing relates to capital projects and relates only to the capital budget. The only effect of it is that it reduces the burden that has to be carried by your future recurrent budgets in terms of the interest on that borrowing. It is a very simple relationship. I know that you do not understand it, but we over here who are interested in responsible financial management understand it very well.
Ministerial Council Meetings
MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I direct a further question to the Chief Minister. Will he advise the chamber of his policy, or his Government's policy, on ministerial council meetings and other high level meetings of Ministers between States. Will the ACT Government be represented by Ministers or by some other members of the Government? Is it likely that the ACT will be represented by a Minister and an Executive Deputy and, if so, what would be the anticipated cost of that added representation?
MR KAINE: First of all, let us address the cost. There will be no additional costs irrespective of who attends such meetings. Primarily, people who will attend ministerial meetings will be Ministers. They may, as all Ministers do, take a departmental adviser with them or in some cases, if it is considered to be more appropriate because of the specialist advice that is available, they may take their Executive Deputy as an adviser. They are perfectly entitled to do this. They can take their advice from anywhere that they see fit, but in no case will it cost any more - - -
Mr Wood: Will they take a departmental officer, too?
MR KAINE: They will take one or the other, but there will be no increased cost and the representation will always be at the ministerial level.
MR WOOD: Mr Kaine might tell us how it has been working then. There have been ministerial meetings, for example one on welfare recently, and there was a meeting of transport Ministers in Sydney yesterday. He might tell the house if Ministers or Executive Deputies or others have represented the ACT at those meetings or any others that he knows about.
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