Page 2882 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 15 August 1990
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There is no presumption that because I may or may not at some future time appoint another Minister, or even two, that will be done in such a way that it will cost the taxpayer more money. This is a hypothetical question and it is very difficult to answer, but there is a high probability there will be no additional cost to the taxpayer at all.
MR STEVENSON: I have a supplementary question.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, is this a supplementary question?
MR STEVENSON: I will have to call it a supplementary. The question was that, if unable to answer the question regarding the fifth Minister, would the Chief Minister indicate how much a current Minister costs, including such things as a Ford Fairlane, extra personal staff and other relevant charges?
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Stevenson; your point is valid.
MR KAINE: Since I did answer the first question, I do not feel obliged to attempt to answer the second part of it.
Winchester Inquest
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Attorney-General, if I can be heard over the noises from opposite. I refer the Deputy Chief Minister to an article in the Canberra Times of 14 August 1990 which quotes a member of the Federal Attorney-General's staff as having said that the ACT Government had sought extra funding for the Winchester report. Would the Attorney care to comment on that article?
MR COLLAERY: I thank Mr Jensen for the question. It is always amazing that issues of prime public importance have to be raised on this side of the house because the other side only use question time for their vulture-like questioning. They are not interested in the real issues before society.
Members interjected.
MR COLLAERY: Mr Speaker, it is their question time they are spending.
Mr Speaker, on the advice of my office, the comments attributed to Mr Duffy's office in the Canberra Times article are incorrect in that they suggest that the ACT Government requested additional funds. To the best of my knowledge and inquiries no request was made. So far as we know the issue of costs was being pursued by the Commonwealth prior to the Magistrates Court becoming a territorial responsibility on 1 July last.
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