Mr RIOLI - 1997-04-29
Last week, the opposition asked the minister about cuts to the Power and Water Authority resulting from the Cabinet decision to remove 2% of its budget in the last quarter of the financial year. These cuts are causing delays in the authority's repairs and maintenance programs. In his reply, the minister said that there has been no cut whatsoever in the repairs and maintenance area. I seek leave to table an authority newsletter which says that, as a result of the minister's decision, some maintenance projects have been delayed.
Leave granted.
Mr RIOLI: Has the minister misled this House deliberately, or does he not know what is happening in his own department?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I have to request a copy of that because, going by the past practices of the opposition, unfortunately they ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: I do not think there has been a document tabled in this House where there has not been a misquote or partial quote when members opposite have been asking a question. It is important that the information is correct.
I reiterate that, although there have been cutbacks in the total budget of the Power and Water Authority, no cutbacks have been made in the area of repairs and maintenance Cutbacks in that area would be irresponsible. I will continue to ensure that no cuts are made in those operational areas because, obviously, the delivery of electricity ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Will you be quiet! Why do you continually interrupt? All you do is interrupt and shout over members answering questions. You cannot help yourselves. I will not hesitate to identify you every time you try to prevent Territorians from receiving information.
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As members have heard through the media, there has been a 2% cut to this year's budget. In the Power and Water Authority, this amounts to over $4m. A number of measures were discussed to contain expenditure limits within the new budget. Measures which will affect staff are consideration of overtime limitations, a critical review of training and travel and a review of vehicle, fleet and computer hardware needs. Some maintenance projects have been delayed. There is nothing that says those projects have been taken off the program. There is nothing that says essential repairs and maintenance have been deleted. Any suggestion that that is the case is false and misleading.
I warn Territorians again to be wary of what opposition members say because they do tend to be dishonest. They have misquoted from this issue of Friday Feedback of 21 March.
Mr Stirling: You should start reading it.
Mr MANZIE: Will the member for Nhulunbuy be quiet? Or does he champion the member for Arafura's dishonesty in misquoting and using an implication that ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister should withdraw that remark.
Mr MANZIE: I withdraw that, but I ask if the member for Nhulunbuy supports the implication made by the member for Arafura. Do his comments support the member for Arafura in misleading the community by implying that the wording `some maintenance projects have been delayed' means that repairs and maintenance projects have been cut? Clearly, that is not what is meant. A little honesty would certainly go a long way.
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Leave granted.
Mr RIOLI: Has the minister misled this House deliberately, or does he not know what is happening in his own department?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I have to request a copy of that because, going by the past practices of the opposition, unfortunately they ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: I do not think there has been a document tabled in this House where there has not been a misquote or partial quote when members opposite have been asking a question. It is important that the information is correct.
I reiterate that, although there have been cutbacks in the total budget of the Power and Water Authority, no cutbacks have been made in the area of repairs and maintenance Cutbacks in that area would be irresponsible. I will continue to ensure that no cuts are made in those operational areas because, obviously, the delivery of electricity ...
Members interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: Will you be quiet! Why do you continually interrupt? All you do is interrupt and shout over members answering questions. You cannot help yourselves. I will not hesitate to identify you every time you try to prevent Territorians from receiving information.
Page 2082
As members have heard through the media, there has been a 2% cut to this year's budget. In the Power and Water Authority, this amounts to over $4m. A number of measures were discussed to contain expenditure limits within the new budget. Measures which will affect staff are consideration of overtime limitations, a critical review of training and travel and a review of vehicle, fleet and computer hardware needs. Some maintenance projects have been delayed. There is nothing that says those projects have been taken off the program. There is nothing that says essential repairs and maintenance have been deleted. Any suggestion that that is the case is false and misleading.
I warn Territorians again to be wary of what opposition members say because they do tend to be dishonest. They have misquoted from this issue of Friday Feedback of 21 March.
Mr Stirling: You should start reading it.
Mr MANZIE: Will the member for Nhulunbuy be quiet? Or does he champion the member for Arafura's dishonesty in misquoting and using an implication that ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The minister should withdraw that remark.
Mr MANZIE: I withdraw that, but I ask if the member for Nhulunbuy supports the implication made by the member for Arafura. Do his comments support the member for Arafura in misleading the community by implying that the wording `some maintenance projects have been delayed' means that repairs and maintenance projects have been cut? Clearly, that is not what is meant. A little honesty would certainly go a long way.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016