Page 3920 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 October 1991
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The operation yesterday was conducted safely. It was clear that, had similar operations been conducted in some areas of New South Wales, yesterday's events may not have occurred. It is a very responsible program and it will continue.
MR COLLAERY: I thank the Minister for his response. It is a serious question. The real point of the question is: In view of the numbers of phone calls to at least the Rally's office over that burn, will the Minister undertake to attempt to influence the people responsible for these activities to issue a public notice, so far as that is practicable, when these operations are programmed to take place? We have all seen such notices in country newspapers and they are prefaced by the statement, "So far as is practicable, depending on weather conditions, burn-offs may take place on such and such a date". I ask the Minister whether he would be interested in seeing that those procedures, at least, are instituted, so that we do not have the misunderstandings, perhaps, that arose yesterday.
MR CONNOLLY: I have no problems with announcing in advance where controlled burn-offs will occur. Because they are controlled and because careful consideration is given to them, the decision is made some time in advance. I will certainly undertake to look very carefully into how practical it is to implement that. I cannot see any overwhelming reason why it ought not be possible to advise, perhaps through the community newspapers, where such events will occur on the south side and the north side.
Children's Day Care Services Section - Staffing
MS MAHER: My question is also addressed to Mr Connolly, as Minister for Housing and Community Services. Given the Chief Minister's assurance to the community that the ACT Labor Government has a very strong commitment to the provision of quality child-care, can the Minister explain why, in this budget, he has reduced the staffing level of the licensing related functions area within the children's day care services section by almost 50 per cent; that is, from an ASL of 4.5 to 2.5, with effect, I believe, from the end of this month?
MR CONNOLLY: I presume that Ms Maher is making some reference to some of the reductions in administrative staff that are occurring in administrative positions throughout the ACT Government Service in order to achieve the targeted savings that were announced by the Chief Minister. Administrative positions in central office positions are somewhat different from sharp end service delivery. Despite the problems of a massive decline in Commonwealth Government support for this Territory, and a consequent massive and sudden decline in the size of its budget, we are endeavouring to ensure that the service delivery ends continue.
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