XN000022-1982-05-05 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1982

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PENSIONS INCREASED BY 12 PER CENT

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A 12 PER CENT INCREASE IN ALL PENSIONS IN PAYMENT ON APRIL 1, 1982. THE TOTAL COST OF THIS INCREASE IS ESTIMATED AT $40.2 MILLION FOR A FULL YEAR.

IN MOVING A MOTION FOR THE ADJUSTMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S DECLARED POLICY TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASING POWER OF CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS AND THIS IS ACHIEVED BY PERIODIC PENSION ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN THE COST OF LIVING.

MR ROWLANDS SAID THAT DURING THE CURRENT REVIEW PERIOD, WHICH COVERS A NINE-MONTH PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 1981 TO MARCH 31, 1982, THE MOVING ANNUAL AVERAGE OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) ROSE BY 26.1 POINTS OR 11.4 PER CENT.

HE SAID THE USUAL PRACTICE WOULD BE TO ROUND THIS DOWN AND ADJUST PENSIONS BY 11 PER CENT, HOWEVER, SINCE 1976, WHEN THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADJUSTING PENSIONS AGAINST MOVEMENTS IN CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) WERE INTRODUCED, THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES HAVE BEEN ROUNDED DOWN IN FIVE YEARS OUT OF SIX,

+THIS HAS RESULTED OVER THE YEARS IN A NET ARITHMETIC ROUNDING DOWN OF 0.59 PER CENT. IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED REASONABLE TO ROUND UP THIS YEAR'S ADJUSTMENT FROM 11.4 PER CENT TO 12 PER CENT, HE SAID.

COORDINATION OF TRANSPORT POLICY

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY HE WAS GIVING CLOSE PERSONAL ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANT MATTER OF ENSURING THAT TRANSPORT POLICY VIEWS AND NEEDS WERE EFFECTIVELY CO-ORDINATED INTO GOVERNMENT PLANNING AND PROGRAMMES AS THEY WERE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED AT ALL LEVELS.

MR SCOTT WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON T.S. LO, WHO ASKED WHAT PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE TO CENTRAL ISE TRANSPORT RESPONSIBILITIES.

HE SAID IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, THE FIRST STEP IN THE REORGANISATION OF THE FORMER ENVIRONMENT BRANCH WAS TAKEN FOLLOWING THE DECISION TO SEPARATE TRANSPORT POLICY AND STRATEGIC TRANSPORT PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THOSE IN RESPECT OF LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND TO CENTRALISE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.