Page 2010 - Week 06 - Thursday, 8 June 2006
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There is an enormous network of support for Healthpact. The government even launched a book about it. Mr Corbell said that it has done a wonderful job. This bill should be defeated.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (9.15): I am going to put a slightly different slant on the debate. Most of my colleagues have criticised the government—and deservedly so—for very bad administrative decisions, but tonight, in addition to congratulating my colleagues on being so on the ball in relation to the administration of really important things like the emergency services authority, I want to congratulate the government on its decision to do away with the ACT Planning and Land Council.
The planning and land council was an entirely ill-thought-out proposal. With the changes that Mr Seselja spoke about earlier today in the LDA, I think that what we are seeing is the unravelling of the ill-thought-out 2002 “vision” that Mr Corbell had for ACTPLA. I hope that we will see much more of that unravelling in the very near future. I congratulate the government on eventually coming to its senses and abolishing the planning and land council.
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Minister for the Arts, Acting Minister for the Territory and Municipal Services and Acting Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (9.17): I thank members for their contributions to the debate. Once again, I acknowledge the very short time that members have had available to them to consider this legislation. I regret that members have not had a particularly long time to look at it and digest it. I acknowledge the comments and the criticisms that have been made in relation to that and the difficulty that has been presented.
This is not unusual in a budget context. It has been a feature of previous budgets; indeed, it was a feature of the circumstance in which we, in opposition, found ourselves when the Liberal Party, then in government, presented its budgets and proceeded immediately, almost invariably in budget week, with legislation in exactly the same way we have. I am sure there is an understanding amongst all members, certainly those that have been here under previous governments, that this is always a feature of budget week in the Assembly.
My colleagues, in speaking on ACTION and tourism, went very much to the reasons and the rationale behind the decisions that the government has taken in this bill. At the end of the day, it is about outputs and outcomes. It is about efficiencies, about reducing administration; it is about achieving the best possible result that we can for the expenditure of the taxpayers’ dollar.
Healthpact grants are being retained at their existing significant level. It should be understood, however, that a very significant level of administrative support backed Healthpact. Healthpact and its board are a group of people with very significant experience and, undoubtedly, a deep commitment to preventative health—the health pact with the community. The government will remain in touch and involved with the community in relation to all of its programs.
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