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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (25 June) . . Page.. 2070 ..

MRS CARNELL: I understand why those opposite do not want to hear the answer to this question.

Ms McRae: Because it is boring. Why don't you just table it?

MRS CARNELL: Actually it is interesting that Ms McRae thinks it is boring. She obviously thinks it is boring to overspend your budget substantially. I thank Mr Kaine for the question. I believe it is important that the costs that we incur in performing our duties as a government and as a ministry are subject to close scrutiny. I am very interested that those opposite do not think that is the case. I have certainly noticed that Mr Whitecross has been very keen to go on a bit lately about spending priorities, planning conferences and Ministers wasting money on themselves and so on.

Mr Speaker, I can advise the Assembly that we are forecasting a small underspend in the Executive budget of about one per cent in 1995-96. To me, and to my Ministers and to this Government, this is a very important achievement and a very symbolic achievement. We on this side of the house operate on the principle that if you cannot manage your own budget then how can you expect your departments and your agencies to manage theirs? It is also important to advise the Assembly that this Government will spend $230,000 less this financial year.

Ms Follett: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I would ask whether the Chief Minister is in fact the Minister for Health, the department which has had an over-$14m blow-out.

MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I made it very clear that this Government, unlike those opposite, took that very seriously. It is important to advise this Assembly that this Government will spend about $230,000 less this financial year on its Executive budget than the former Labor Ministry did in its final year in office. You cannot expect your agencies to make savings, to do what we expect them to do - that is, live within their budget - if we in the Executive are not willing to tighten our own belts. Quite simply, we spend 13 per cent less on our Ministry than those opposite did in their last year. I can understand why those opposite are very embarrassed about this. What we are talking about here, Mr Speaker, is money spent on themselves - nothing more, nothing less. You can contrast our approach with the approach taken by those opposite. In 1994-95 the Follett Government overspent - - -

Mr Berry: Rooms at the motel, food at the motel, booze at the motel.

MRS CARNELL: All handled within budget, Mr Speaker.

Mr Berry: Snouts in the trough.

MR SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is answering the question.

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