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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 6 Hansard (17 June) . . Page.. 1939 ..
MRS BURKE
(continuing):Why did this government deem it fit to undermine the estimates process? That is the question in my mind. Why would they be doing that? When they vigorously stated that they were going to be an open, accountable and transparent government, are they now refusing to live by their own words? May they eat them for tea!
New initiatives seem to be thin on the ground. We have heard many people referring to the fact that indeed they were not new initiatives at all, but continuations and extensions. It seems, from an overall perspective, that we are paying more to receive less.
I am concerned at the big cloud that still hangs over the now well-publicised and well-documented $10 million Treasurer's advance. I am still scratching my head, wondering why that was done-and after finding out that only $2.1 million has been spent so far, it is rather disturbing.
In respect of the scratchies scandal, I am dreadfully sad that the government sees this as such a laughable matter. It is a despicable way to decide on the future of someone's home. It falls into the category of tossing a coin. It is shameful and despicable. Indeed, the way the survey questions were couched suggests that this government could already know the fate of Currong apartments. We will wait and see.
The fact that there is no new funding forthcoming to address the situation of housing for young people is disturbing. We have heard about the territory's windfall. Let us hope some of the windfall money will be directed that way, as a matter or urgency. I hope to see the Housing Minister lobbying the cabinet in this direction.
I note with alacrity page 8 of the report-and pick up on Mr Hargreaves's comment this morning that the shadow ministers were not present. I refute that totally, given that we all have the opportunity to work in our rooms and watch proceedings through closed-circuit TV.
Mr Cornwell
: I did not see him there!MRS BURKE
: No, you did not see him-that is true. There were times when I was there and Mr Hargreaves was not, but I am not going to go on about that. I refer Mr Hargreaves to the fact that, on page 8 at 1.47, the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services tabled a number of replacement pages for Budget Paper 4, relating to information in output classes at the commencement of the evidence from that department.That is not good enough. How were we to then ask questions, constructed and structured properly, and get sensible answers? We were unable to ask those questions, due to the late or amended information. Even then, I had to say I was rather disturbed to find that the minister referred most questions on to others. I have his excellent department's views but not the views of the minister-what a shame!
Overall-sad to say-the estimates process has revealed a lacklustre, dull, sloppy and careless budget, with little to no innovation or vision, and very few new initiatives.
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