Page 4542 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 6 December 1994

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Construction Industry Long Service Leave Board

MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is directed to the Industrial Relations Minister, Mr Lamont. I also refer the Minister to the Auditor-General's report No. 8, which states on page 28 that the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Board as at 30 June 1994 holds funds that are $18m in excess of its estimated liabilities for long service leave. The Auditor-General said that, despite the reduction from 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent on 1 January this year - a move initiated by the Opposition but opposed by the Government - the funds have continued to accumulate; and the reduction has no significant impact. I ask the Minister: Will he now accept that the levy should be further reduced to a maximum of one per cent, in line with the recommendations of the Long Service Leave Board?

MR LAMONT: I thank the member for his question. It gives me the opportunity to recount - - -

Mrs Carnell: You opposed the first reduction.

Mr Kaine: Why not take the opportunity to answer the question?

Mr Berry: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: Could we have a little less chatter? If the Minister were to say to them, "Hey, man, don't hassle me", that might work.

Mr De Domenico: Under what standing order, Mr Berry?

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr De Domenico, you have asked your question. Continue, Mr Lamont.

MR LAMONT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Answering this question does give me the opportunity to recount that it was this Opposition who, when another matter was being debated here in the Assembly previously concerning training - - -

Mr Humphries: You cannot answer the question, can you?

Mrs Carnell: He is sitting down.

Mr Humphries: This is very boring.

MADAM SPEAKER: Order!

MR LAMONT: It gave me the opportunity to recount that, when we were discussing the proposals about training and training levies in the ACT, it was this Opposition that objected to and, in fact, fought against a proposition - - -


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