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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 3409 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

I am pleased to note that in broad financial terms the government has not only delivered the 2000-01 capital works program but also has made some inroads into the underspends carried over from previous years. Mr Speaker, there may well be some projects from the 2000-01 program which got delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. However, due to the initiatives and reforms introduced by the government, for example, the supplementary program, the overall financial targets of the 2000-01 were well managed.

The Department of Urban Services was the largest contributor to the capital works program in the June quarter, with expenditure of $19.546 million. This takes the year to date expenditure for the department to $40.353 million, or 96 per cent of funds available for expenditure.

Mr Speaker, there are some projects from the previous years which continue to experience delays. Approximately $20.860 million has been deferred in relation to such projects. Major projects contributing to this shortfall in total expenditure include the Belconnen Pool, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre, and the Woden Joint Emergency Services Centre, along with several other smaller projects.

A number of major projects also reached completion during the year. The stage 2 works at East Row, Alinga Street, Mort Street intersection; the Dickson precinct stage 2 refurbishment; the Gundaroo Drive extension, from Rolfe Avenue to Gungahlin Place; the replanning of non-inpatient clinical areas at Calvary Hospital; the refurbishment of the pathology building at the Canberra Hospital; and the Building 7 refurbishment also at the Canberra Hospital were all completed.

During 2000-01, reform and improvement to the capital works program continued. A formal project acquittal process was introduced with the development of project completion reports-a one-page summary outlining the basic details of projects, and financial outcomes in greater detail.

Capital work reporting through the annual report process has also been addressed, with a requirement for agencies to now include a "Statement of capital works income and expenditure" which outlines both the budget and actual capital works financing and expenditure. Agencies are also required as part of this process to provide variation explanations and identify the main projects contributing to the program's underspend.

Mr Speaker, I commend the 2000-01 capital works program's fourth quarter and full year report to the Assembly.

Mr Kaine: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can we assume that Mr Moore has overthrown the Chief Minister and has already moved into the Chief Minister's role?

Mr Hargreaves: You have always wanted that seat, haven't you.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Kaine, no more than Mr Hargreaves has overthrown the Labor opposition.

Mr Kaine: No, he is sitting in his own seat.

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