Page 973 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 March 1991
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MR KAINE: They did not like it at all. The Government is mindful of the problem, Mr Speaker, as to whether we should allow unrestricted trading, except perhaps on one or two particularly significant holidays in the year; but, because there is such divided opinion on it, I think that we need to be sure that we have all of the facts, not only those from some of the vested interests. For that reason we are having a full study done.
Portfolio Expenditures
MR CONNOLLY: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, have you ever given an instruction to your Ministers that they must keep their portfolio expenditures within the level appropriated by law?
MR KAINE: I do not know that I have given them a specific instruction, Mr Speaker, but I am quite sure that my Ministers are just as well aware as Mr Connolly that there is a legal requirement for them to do so. They can only spend money that has been properly appropriated by this Assembly, and my view about proper fiscal management is well known, not only amongst my Ministers but in ACT Administration as well.
I have made it quite clear that I expect people to manage the resources that they have been given at all levels, and I expect them to confine their expenditures to the amounts of money that have been properly set aside. That applies equally to Ministers and to managers in the ACT Government Service.
MR CONNOLLY: Just by way of a supplementary question: You said that you were not sure that you had ever given such an instruction. Can we take it that you have now directed your Ministers, particularly, perhaps, Mr Collaery and Mr Humphries, not to exceed their expenditure levels?
MR KAINE: No, you may not. I am quite sure that my Ministers fully understand their responsibilities as Ministers. They fully understand their accountability. You may not quite understand it, and if you are ever a Minister you may require a specific direction as to what your duties and responsibilities are. I do not find that with my present Ministers. They do know; they do understand what their obligations and responsibilities are, and they do not need a specific direction from me to be aware of them.
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