Page 2023 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 June 1993
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MR BERRY: I do not have it chapter and verse in front of me, but what I can say to you is that one of the most important things that you have to deal with is the ability to pay. You have to consult with people, where there is an overpayment issue, and discover the ability to pay. That is something that we would do in relation to anybody, where there had been an overpayment, whoever was responsible for the overpayment. There is not much point in trying to get blood out of a stone. This is an issue of dealing with the matter compassionately. I can say to you that, within the arrangements in the public service, this will be dealt with compassionately, the same as it would be for any other officer.
MR DE DOMENICO: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Mr Berry, have the officers concerned been told how much they have to repay, when they have to repay it and how it is going to be collected?
MR BERRY: In relation to how it will be collected, as I just said to you, there will have to be consultation with the officers on how that might be achieved.
Mrs Carnell: That would be the first time you have consulted with them on anything.
MR BERRY: Hang on a minute. You asked, and I have told you that there will be consultation with the officers. When are you going to get sick of this issue? The people involved in the recovery of the money, I can tell you, will be compassionate when it comes to the recovery of it. The officers might agree that it be paid back immediately. I do not know the exact share which is involved in relation to each of them, but I can say to you that responsible managers will take the issue up with the officers. If they choose not to pay it all back immediately or if there is some other dispute, that matter will be dealt with. If they choose to pay it back within a reasonable time and that is agreeable, then that is the way it will be dealt with. It is not something that one arbitrarily decides upon, given the circumstances.
Mulligan's Flat
MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning, Mr Wood. Can the Minister inform the Assembly as to what decisions have been made about the final boundaries of Mulligan's Flat, and when will the boundaries of the area be gazetted?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, final decisions are about to be made. I know that this has gone on for quite a long time. I think I indicated almost a year ago that we were close to determining that boundary. Because of approaches from various groups and because of the Government's own very deep interest in that area, we wanted to be as generous as possible in establishing those boundaries. In fact, tentative boundaries had been drawn up and then we had another look at it. We thought we had better do something about preserving the very large artificial pond or lake - whatever you want to call it - and prevent any urban run-off onto that at some stage in the future. That study took some time. It has been completed and I can tell you that a further significant area will be added to Mulligan's Flat. I have seen a boundary that I think is pretty final and it will not be long, I think, before I will be announcing that. I know that this has been a bit of a theme of mine, but I think it has been worth while. It will be quite a long time yet before there is any urban development in that area. The longer time than I had expected that has been taken to establish this boundary, I think, will be well worth while.
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