Page 163 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010
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Mr Smyth: But she just said there was no analysis.
MS GALLAGHER: That is what I will call it. I think he—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MS GALLAGHER: For God’s sake, Mr Smyth, grow up. The interjections, Mr Speaker—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MS GALLAGHER: Mr Harris’s analysis—
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth!
MS GALLAGHER: They asked me a question, Mr Speaker. I then used the word “analysis” and they all break up into uproar—that there is some major win there that I have used the word “analysis”. Mr Harris’s analysis, to me from my reading of it, seems to be preoccupied with the issue of the government’s credit rating; that it is all about protecting the government’s credit rating. This has not been about protecting the government’s credit rating. This has been about an integrated health system, but it has also been about what our budget can afford and the best way forward.
So Mr Harris presents a number of options, many of which, I have to say, will be completely—
Mr Hanson: Crazy?
MS GALLAGHER: Well, ones that LCM—
Mr Hanson: You should consider them then, by your own rationale.
MS GALLAGHER: ones that will be unpalatable to Little Company of Mary. And let us just remember here, boys, that before we go ahead we do need LCM’s agreement, before we do anything. But Mr Harris’s idea that we take out a loan and then not only pay the loan back but interest on the loan and the financing costs of that—only to have that asset remain on Little Company of Mary’s balance sheet—again to us when we are looking to the ones that are making the investment, I have a few concerns with. I should also say that Mr Harris does point to the fact—(Time expired.)
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary?
MR SMYTH: Treasurer, can you point the Assembly to any experts who agree with the Treasury analysis who are not paid by the ACT government, and will you table this advice?
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