Page 975 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 March 1991
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Seniors Card
DR KINLOCH: My question is to the Chief Minister, Mr Kaine, who I believe is the holder of the largest seniors card in Canberra. I seem to remember seeing you with that enormous card last year, Mr Kaine. What action has been taken to extend those concessions offered to holders of the seniors card? You can see why I need to ask!
MR KAINE: I understand Dr Kinloch's interest in the question, Mr Speaker, but I have to dispel his illusions. In fact, I do not have a card and I have not yet applied for one, but along with Dr Kinloch I am sure that I will when I retire from this place. Mr Speaker, on 13 December last year I announced a number of concessions that were available to senior citizens on production of a card. They were, I think, fairly comprehensive, but I also said that other matters would be considered.
There is a committee that is looking into these matters. It includes representation from my department, from the ACT Council on the Ageing, from the Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association, from the Regular Defence Forces Welfare Association, from Probus, from CARD, from the Canberra Chamber of Commerce, from the Australian Small Business Association, from the Tourism Commission and from the Consumer Affairs Bureau; so I think the committee is fairly wide ranging in its representation. Its job is to recommend to the Government additional things to be added. It is working towards a further expansion of the list of concessions and discounts that are available, and we expect to be able to produce a seniors card directory very soon - in fact, to coincide with Seniors Week in April. It will list all of the things that are available to seniors under the card system.
Portfolio Expenditures
MR WOOD: I direct a question to the Chief Minister in his capacity as Treasurer. I was very interested in the answer that he gave to Mr Connolly just a little while ago. In view of that, Treasurer, what action have you taken in relation to Mr Collaery's admission on the front page of the Canberra Times that his welfare branch budget blow-out was "preordained and predelivered"?
MR KAINE: Mr Collaery's alleged budget blow-out is in the same category as Mr Humphries' alleged blow-out. The only people who keep talking about these blow-outs are the members of the Opposition who assiduously feed the media. As far as I am concerned there is, as yet, no budget blow-out. No Minister has yet come to me seeking supplementation of his budget.
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