Page 4039 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video

Clause 9A would include an obligation for the minister to consult with the relevant committee of the Assembly on appointees to the Climate Change Council prior to appointments being made. This is an important amendment because it would involve all of us in this place more closely with climate policies and climate action for our city. It would also bring a higher level of oversight to the process. Climate action is in front of most Canberrans minds. It is incumbent on all of us in this chamber to ensure the Climate Change Council is set up for success and able to provide the strongest and best advice to government. I commend my amendment to the Assembly.

MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism) (12.10): This amendment, as Ms Lee indicates, requires committee consultation on Climate Change Council appointees. I advise the Assembly that section 227.2(c) of the Legislation Act of 2001 explicitly provides that Assembly consultation is not required for a person being appointed to a statutory position if the only function of the position is to advise the minister.

As the only function of a Climate Change Council is to advise the minister, it is appropriate that these are ministerial appointments and they do not require Assembly consultation. It is certainly not appropriate to create a new process or requirement that is specific to the Climate Change Council and the government cannot support an approach where every single Ministerial Advisory Council would need to go through an Assembly approval process. Government cannot function in that way. We cannot support this singling out of the Climate Change Council and we would not support the principle that Ministerial Advisory Councils with the sole purpose of advising the minister, need their membership approved by the Assembly.

Question put:

That amendment No 3 be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 7

Noes 14

Mr Cain

Mr Barr

Dr Paterson

Ms Castley

Ms Berry

Mr Pettersson

Mr Cocks

Mr Braddock

Mr Rattenbury

Ms Lawder

Ms Burch

Mr Steel

Ms Lee

Ms Cheyne

Ms Stephen-Smith

Mr Milligan

Ms Clay

Ms Vassarotti

Mr Parton

Ms Davidson

Mr Gentleman

Question resolved in the negative.

Proposed new clause 9A negatived.

Clause 10.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video