Page 909 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr De Domenico for the question. I would say at the outset that, under a determination signed by Mr Kaine as Chief Minister, staff who are affected by a change in their employer's status have a period of two weeks in which nothing changes. We are well within that two-week period. Do I make that clear? I consider that Mr Kaine's action, taken when he was Chief Minister, was appropriate. It is my intention that staff should be adversely affected as little as possible by changes in the status of their employer. Nevertheless, in regard to Mr Berry, he has been affected, obviously, by a motion passing in this chamber, and that does affect not only his own remuneration, which is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, but also that of his staff entitlement. As far as I am aware, there is no proposal other than that Mr Berry should have the same entitlements as do other backbenchers.
Assembly Building - Artworks
MS SZUTY: My question without notice is also to you, Madam Speaker, and relates to the selection, acquisition and display of artworks in our new Assembly building and the ongoing management of this collection. I note that you have established a Public Art Advisory Committee to advise you with regard to these matters. I ask: Can you inform the Assembly as to how interested Assembly members can participate in the decision making process in relation to matters concerning artworks in the Assembly building?
MADAM SPEAKER: I will take that question on notice and inform the Assembly in due course.
Council on the Ageing
MR KAINE: I ask a question of the Chief Minister, which I think is quite appropriate, in light of the response to the earlier question that the Government seems prepared to keep Mr Berry in the standard to which he has become accustomed. My question, however, relates to the Council on the Ageing. The Chief Minister no doubt knows that the council indicated yesterday that they had insufficient funds to continue operations through to June of this year. Has the Chief Minister taken the trouble to find out how much money they require to complete their operations for this year and, if so, has she indicated that she will provide the funds to keep that organisation in place?
MS FOLLETT: As Mr Kaine is aware, I was present when Mr Rope for the Council on the Ageing made those comments, and of course I will follow up his statement. I think it is appropriate to advise the Assembly that the ACT Government has contributed very significantly towards COTA's operating costs in the ACT, and I can give you some information on what precisely our contribution has been. In the 1993-94 financial year, COTA received a recurrent community services grant of $73,820 for operational expenses. The grant they received in the previous year, in 1992-93, had included a 4 per cent indexation and superannuation component. So it is a fact that COTA's funding has increased over the years. They also receive an additional sum each year of $10,580 to assist with the operating costs of the Hughes Community Centre.
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