Page 1328 - Week 05 - Thursday, 26 April 1990
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handover process after self-government and purported declarations of national land by the Federal Government that relate not only to the question of Gowrie Hostel.
In this case the Alliance Government, on behalf of the people of the ACT, will be challenging the Commonwealth's bona fides in declaring the Gowrie site to be national land on the eve of self-government and just as quickly moving to sell it. I expect that this litigation will have profound precedental importance in relation to other matters, and the Government is determined to pursue with full vigour these concerns on behalf of the people of the ACT, in whom the property ought to vest.
Ainslie Transfer Station
MR BERRY: I have a question for the Chief Minister on which I hope I will be able to get an answer. As Minister for the environment and Treasurer, did the Chief Minister ensure that a full cost-benefit analysis of the closure of the Ainslie Transfer Station was undertaken?
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, the question of the continuing costs of operating that depot and the costs to the community was taken into account, and that was why it was decided not to continue that contract.
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I ask a supplementary question. Did the costing that the Minister referred to - I could hardly call it a cost-benefit analysis - include the resource costs of greater energy usage by the north Canberra residents driving to other tips; reduced recycling; and the cost to the ACT Government of cleaning up the increased illegal dumping?
MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, the question, by implication, assumes that there will not be adequate provision made for recycling. That simply is not the case. While closing down that depot as a transfer depot - I repeat, as a transfer depot - there is a considerable saving to the taxpayer; and, with the other measures that the Government is taking to institute a comprehensive recycling program, there will be a better result for the community and not a worse one.
Children's Services
MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, I direct my question to the Deputy Chief Minister. I refer to a recent report in the Canberra Times regarding proposals for Marymead to reorganise its services in the area of substitute care. Does this represent a change of direction in the care of children?
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