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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1194 ..

MR MOORE: That is what I am getting to, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister, what action are you taking to ensure that when budgets are blown out by large sums of money like this you are informed?

MRS CARNELL: We have monthly reports, Mr Moore, on every aspect of the ACT budget, as you know. We are kept up to date, and we have regular meetings.

Australian Public Service - Job Cuts

MR BERRY: My question is to the Chief Minister. I refer the Chief Minister and Treasurer to her media release of 2 March 1995, in which she said:

It is clear that major reductions in public services have a direct impact on the private sector, with a consequent downturn in the economy as a whole.

I refer also to the Canberra Times article of 18 April 1995, which reports the Chief Minister as follows:

Mrs Carnell said she had no plans to "do a Carr" and slash the public service as there was a symbiotic relationship between the private and public sectors in the ACT and if she started cutting bureaucrats the private sector would fall over.

Furthermore, I would like the Chief Minister to especially note two comments accredited to her Deputy Chief Minister which are on the public record. I refer to the Canberra Times. We have been using the Canberra Times as an important reference. Mr De Domenico drew attention to that a minute ago. Mr De Domenico said about the Public Service cuts, "So what!". This is the Minister for Industrial Relations in the ACT, who is supposed to have some connection with the business sector. Mr De Domenico is also quoted as expressing this view:

The future for employment in the Territory lies clearly in the private sector and Public Service job cuts will have little if any effect on future unemployment.

Will the Chief Minister, having considered all of those opinions, tell us who is right here? Which one is right - you or Mr De Domenico?

MRS CARNELL: I thought I answered that question by saying that I did not hear Mr De Domenico say that. Mr De Domenico said that he did not say it.

Mr Berry: I will table the article from the Canberra Times.

Mr De Domenico: It must be true if it is in the Canberra Times!

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