Page 1408 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 11 May 1994
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MADAM SPEAKER: I will rule on that question at the end of question time, Ms Follett, when I have had a chance to think about the issue. It is a matter of quite some concern to me that this issue has been raised at all in question time. I will proceed cautiously on the document question.
Breast Cancer Research Funding
MS ELLIS: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Chief Minister. I ask: Is it true that in the budget handed down last night the Commonwealth has cut funding to the ACT for breast cancer research?
MS FOLLETT: I think all members would agree that increased funding for breast cancer research is something we would support. Members who have visited our own breast cancer screening clinic in Civic have seen the work they do there. It certainly deserves all of our support in trying to detect this disease early. I am very pleased to be able to allay fears that might have arisen that the Commonwealth funding to the ACT has been reduced. In fact, that is not the case, Madam Speaker, and the Commonwealth budget paper that contains those figures is incorrect. What has occurred is that the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory figures have been transposed. The correct figures for the ACT are that the Commonwealth's funding for 1994-95 will total $887,789 and this represents a 19 per cent increase compared with the current year. I am very pleased indeed to see that increase. I am also very pleased to know that in the ACT we are well ahead of some other States in our progress on this matter. Particularly, we are ahead somewhat of New South Wales, our large neighbour. We have got to our target for screening, and I think that is a great achievement. I am very pleased that this work will be able to continue with increased funding. The Commonwealth funding is not the end of the story, of course. It is a significant contribution to the program, but I would like to advise members that overall we expect that expenditure on breast screening in the Territory in the coming year will total some $1.7m. So it is a significant effort indeed.
Commonwealth Public Service - Job Cuts
MRS CARNELL: My question without notice is directed to the Chief Minister. On ABC radio this morning the Chief Minister said:
There have not been massive cuts in the Federal Public Service, and the intentions appear to be that the Commonwealth will be maintaining its work force at about the same level as last year. Now, that is a good sign for us as well.
Noting that the Federal Government plans to slash 352 jobs from the CSIRO in the next 12 months, most of which will be lost in Canberra, can the Chief Minister tell us why that is good news for Federal public servants in the ACT? How can the Chief Minister reconcile her statement on radio this morning with the budget papers, which show that the Federal Government plans to shed more than 715 Public Service jobs over the next year, hundreds of which will be lost in the ACT?
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