Mr McCARTHY - 2012-10-23
Is it true the Department of Infrastructure has been instructed to lose 100 staff over the next three years? If not 100, how many, minister?
ANSWER
Thank you very much for your question, shadow minister. Madam Speaker, it is a great portfolio to take over and I am sure he enjoyed the portfolio of Infrastructure during his time.
It is a difficult challenge walking into these portfolios with trouble all over the place; to see what I have to inherit, particularly in areas such as the asset management system, which many members in this Chamber would understand. We are talking about debt today. The Treasurer has been talking about debt and the Leader of the Opposition has been talking about debt.
We look at a program such as the asset management system and the original proposal of how much was supposed to be spent on that project, how many tens of millions of dollars have been spent to date, and how much more money has to be spent today because of the poor decisions which were made by you and your Cabinet under the previous government ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was about how many staff the department will lose. If it is not 100, how many?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you get to the point?
Mr GILES: As I was saying, coming into this portfolio I have had to take on many legacy issues from the failures left under your leadership as the minister for Infrastructure, and the failed leadership of your Cabinet ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the minister cannot answer the question he should sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: Thank you very much. On reflection, Question Time when you were the minister was much more shambolic, my friend ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is: how many staff will the department lose and, if it is not 100, how many, minister?
Mr GILES: Thank you very much for your question, once again, opposition spokesperson for Infrastructure. One of the disappointing parts of coming into this parliament was - yes, we got some fantastic new bush members; yes, there has been commentary about how well the campaign went, particularly in the bush, but we did not win the seat of Barkly. The people of Barkly really need a voice.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I will use the last 30 seconds to ask the question again because this minister cannot answer. We know there are people to be sacked ...
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If there is going to be a point of order I would like to know what standing order it is so I can make direct reference to it.
Madam SPEAKER: Please continue, minister.
Mr GILES: These points of order are irrelevant and frivolous.
The biggest disappointment was we did not get proper leadership in the Barkly. Our Treasurer is working to present a mini-budget in early December and we will be formulating austerity measures to pay for the debts of your failed government.
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired minister, please be seated.
ANSWER
Thank you very much for your question, shadow minister. Madam Speaker, it is a great portfolio to take over and I am sure he enjoyed the portfolio of Infrastructure during his time.
It is a difficult challenge walking into these portfolios with trouble all over the place; to see what I have to inherit, particularly in areas such as the asset management system, which many members in this Chamber would understand. We are talking about debt today. The Treasurer has been talking about debt and the Leader of the Opposition has been talking about debt.
We look at a program such as the asset management system and the original proposal of how much was supposed to be spent on that project, how many tens of millions of dollars have been spent to date, and how much more money has to be spent today because of the poor decisions which were made by you and your Cabinet under the previous government ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was about how many staff the department will lose. If it is not 100, how many?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you get to the point?
Mr GILES: As I was saying, coming into this portfolio I have had to take on many legacy issues from the failures left under your leadership as the minister for Infrastructure, and the failed leadership of your Cabinet ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If the minister cannot answer the question he should sit down.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order.
Mr GILES: Thank you very much. On reflection, Question Time when you were the minister was much more shambolic, my friend ...
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question is: how many staff will the department lose and, if it is not 100, how many, minister?
Mr GILES: Thank you very much for your question, once again, opposition spokesperson for Infrastructure. One of the disappointing parts of coming into this parliament was - yes, we got some fantastic new bush members; yes, there has been commentary about how well the campaign went, particularly in the bush, but we did not win the seat of Barkly. The people of Barkly really need a voice.
Mr McCARTHY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I will use the last 30 seconds to ask the question again because this minister cannot answer. We know there are people to be sacked ...
Members interjecting.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! If there is going to be a point of order I would like to know what standing order it is so I can make direct reference to it.
Madam SPEAKER: Please continue, minister.
Mr GILES: These points of order are irrelevant and frivolous.
The biggest disappointment was we did not get proper leadership in the Barkly. Our Treasurer is working to present a mini-budget in early December and we will be formulating austerity measures to pay for the debts of your failed government.
Madam SPEAKER: Your time has expired minister, please be seated.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016