Page 3930 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 29 November 2022
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public service through exceptional contribution to commonwealth law in the international arena, particularly in relation to natural resource management. He was also appointed an Honorary Professor of Law at the Australian National University College of Law in February of 2019.
Mr Manthorpe would be called upon to review ACT government advertising campaigns if the independent reviewer was unavailable. Mr Manthorpe was appointed the Commonwealth and ACT Ombudsman from 2017 to 2021, where he played an important role in upholding the concepts of integrity and fairness.
He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2010 for outstanding public service in contributing to the Australian government’s response to the collapse of ABC Learning Centres in 2008. He is Deputy President and Councillor at the Institute of Public Administration Australia and was awarded fellowship of the organisation in 2021. He brings with him a wealth of experience from many years in senior leadership roles across the public service.
I have every confidence that both Mr Campbell and Mr Manthorpe will perform the duties of the position with the highest integrity and professionalism. As independent reviewer and acting reviewer, Mr Campbell and Mr Manthorpe will review government campaigns over $40,000 to ensure that they comply with the Government Agencies (Campaign Advertising) Act of 2009, which aims to prevent the misuse of public funds. This is an important role in ensuring integrity, transparency and trust in the use of public funds for government communications.
As part of the review process, the reports of the independent reviewer are presented to the Assembly on a biannual basis. I consider both Mr Campbell and Mr Manthorpe to be highly qualified to undertake this role for the Assembly and trust that this view is shared by other MLAs.
I encourage the Assembly to accept this nomination this morning with the requisite majority, so that the government can implement the necessary processes for the approval of advertising. I present the nomination for consideration by the Assembly.
MS LEE (Kurrajong—Leader of the Opposition) (11.34): The Canberra Liberals have no objection to the Chief Minister’s proposal for the approval of the appointment of Mr Bill Campbell as Independent Reviewer—ACT Government Campaign Advertising and Mr Michael Manthorpe as Acting Independent Reviewer—ACT Government Campaign Advertising. Both the gentlemen that have been proposed are highly qualified, as outlined by Mr Barr in moving his motion.
On behalf of the Canberra Liberals, I also put on the record our thanks to Professor Pearce for his work whilst he was the independent reviewer. The Canberra Liberals will be supporting the government’s motion. It will be interesting to be on the winning end of a vote for a change! We will be supporting Mr Barr’s motion today.
MADAM SPEAKER (Ms Burch) (11.34): The Government Agencies (Campaign Advertising) Act 2009 requires that this appointment is agreed by a special majority of the Assembly, which is 17 votes; therefore, a vote will be taken, I will ring the bells.
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