Page 3458 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 19 September 1990
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I note, Mr Speaker, that the decision is an historically significant one in that it provides for the first time uniform salaries and penalties for all registered nurses, levels 1 to 3, in all the States and Territories under Federal awards, and I also note with some satisfaction that the Federal office of the Australian Nursing Federation has welcomed this decision. Of course, I know that the ACT Branch of the Federation has expressed some disappointment.
I welcome these salary increases for registered nurses, levels 1 to 3, and the introduction of uniformity. A further decision in relation to registered nurse levels 4 and 5 will be determined later this year following hearings before the Full Bench, although these nurses will also receive their second SEP increase.
Captains Flat Dam
MR BERRY: My question is directed to Mr Duby, as Minister for Urban Services. Does the Minister stand by his comment that the ACT Government was aware beforehand of the release of 50 to 60 megalitres of water from the Captains Flat dam?
MR DUBY: I thank Mr Berry for the question. I think the question is based on a false premise. I have not commented, to my knowledge, that the ACT Government was aware beforehand of this release.
Mr Collaery: Ask him for his source.
MR DUBY: I would like to know where you maintain that information comes from. I have publicly stated that we were not aware that that amount of water was going to be released from the dam at Captains Flat. As a matter of fact, we are putting steps in motion now to ensure that in future we shall be advised before such an action occurs.
Whilst discussing the whole issue of that water release, I notice that the Opposition seems to be maintaining that there was a risk to the ACT population of heavy metals, et cetera, being circulated in the water and eventually finding its way into Lake Burley Griffin. It might be appropriate to say that the amount of water that was released has not stirred up any sediments in the river bed, that monitoring of the river at four separate points has been undertaken, and that tests of that water are being undertaken. At this stage the general opinion is that there has been no risk whatsoever to the ACT population of heavy metal pollution in Lake Burley Griffin.
Getting back to the thrust of the question, I reiterate that the ACT Government was not aware that the water was to be released. We have never at any stage said that we were aware that it was going to be released. In fact, that has been denied by departmental sources. I would ask Mr Berry
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