Page 4391 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 1993

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A community group that I have had discussions with and that we respect put words in Senator Schacht's mouth. I think that is unfortunate. They put out a media statement earlier this week - I presume that they got that letter - and said what Senator Schacht said. I think some not too good radio news editing announced that Senator Schacht was giving me a serve. That is simply not the case, and I think that community group should look at the way it does things and avoid misuse of letters and circumstances.

As to the end result, there has been a scientific study, very sensibly, in which there has been some debate between the department, the university and the observatory. That is continuing. The outcomes, the shared decision making it will take, are still a little way off.

Government Service - Home-Garaged Vehicles

MR KAINE: Chief Minister, during the estimates hearings you undertook to review the arrangements under which ACT Government owned vehicles are home garaged. Has that review been initiated yet?

MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, the short answer to Mr Kaine's question is yes; that review is under way.

MR KAINE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Chief Minister, when do you expect that to be completed, and will you undertake to report the results to the Assembly?

MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I do not have with me an expected completion date, but I can find that out and advise the Assembly. I would expect also that, as it was a matter raised by the Estimates Committee, the results of that review would be available.

Teachers - Separation Packages

MR STEVENSON: I ask the Education Minister, Mr Wood: What is the reason behind packages being offered to teachers, and approximately what amount or what range are we talking about for each package?

MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, in a sense the question might best be directed to the Chief Minister, who really has responsibility for packages. In general they come out of Treasury. But I will give you a short answer. Very simply, the offering to senior teachers, teachers of considerable experience who have been there for a long time, is based on upwards of a year's salary entitlement, depending on certain requirements. The teachers, as I explained to Mr Cornwell, will be replaced. In most circumstances the renewal we are getting is that young and vital teachers will replace old and vital teachers; and the new salary level is quite a deal lower and there are very significant savings to be made in that respect.


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