Page 596 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 4 July 1989
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During the same short period, we have initiated a uniquely open process of budget formulation involving wide consultation with the community. We have also promised the same open and accountable process for planning and development.
The Government proposed the development of a comprehensive Assembly committee system which will allow extensive scrutiny of the actions of the Executive and the Administration. In particular, we proposed the establishment of a public accounts committee with unfettered powers to review all matters involving public expenditure. The absence of such a committee system, particularly a public accounts committee, has been one of the major failures of the Queensland system.
The Government welcomes the fact that the Commonwealth established a self-governing ACT with a strong package of administrative law, rights of review, and access to information. The Freedom of Information Act, the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act all enhance the openness and accountability of government and, in particular, the rights of individual citizens. We are also developing new mechanisms for auditing the ACT government accounts.
The administrative structure which we inherited also incorporated a strong, internal capacity to investigate fraud and other abuses within the Administration. The Government also supported in principle the development within the Assembly of a separate capacity to examine allegations of corruption and fraud. We await recommendations on this matter from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
A key feature of Queensland politics, which Mr Fitzgerald stressed as a fundamental cause of corruption in that State, is the electoral system. There has been no suggestion that the ACT electoral system allows corruption. In particular, we support the continued application in the ACT electoral laws of the current Commonwealth provisions in relation to public identification of donors to political parties.
My Government believes, however, that a simple and plain electoral system is the key to effective and accountable government and, accordingly, we are happy to support the inquiry into electoral processes proposed by Mr Duby.
My Government has noted, in particular, the difficulties caused in Queensland by the lack of clear rules about appropriate relationships between the Government and the police force. As Assembly members know, we will not assume responsibility for the courts or for policing until the second half of next year. In the meantime, the Government intends to develop the appropriate structures and guidelines to regulate the situation when it occurs.
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