Page 383 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 21 February 1990
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I believe Mr Wood is absolutely correct in saying that a select committee could achieve that bipartisan approach. There is absolutely no question that the select committee would be taking over the role of government. There is no question that the select committee would be entering into negotiations with the Federal Minister or the Federal Government. As I say, nobody knows more about committees in this Assembly than does Mr Wood and he would not make such a silly mistake, Mr Collaery.
I would like to state further, on behalf of the Labor team, that we look forward very much to taking a full and proper role in the committee system of this Assembly. We have always supported the committee system of this Assembly. We are currently waiting for clarification of the roles of committees and the way in which they are perceived by the current Government. Once we have that clarification and once we are assured that our role in the Assembly committees will be the proper role and that those committees will perform their duties appropriately for the Assembly, not for the Government, then we very much look forward to taking a full and proper part.
I therefore wish to commend yet again the Assembly's committee system and to strongly commend Mr Wood's motion that this matter be dealt with in a select committee, in the way that he has put forward. He has not been prescriptive about the membership or about the terms of reference. Quite clearly, there is scope for the committee itself to consider those matters. But I believe it is appropriate that this Assembly, through its committee system, have the opportunity for open and consultative work on the policing of the ACT, and that we do not confine the debate on policing in the ACT and the community's policing needs, to the closed-door, bureaucratic machinery. We know of the existence of that machinery.
I commend the work that is being done. It is necessary, important work, which is aimed at best meeting the community's needs for policing in the ACT. However, it is not the only work that needs to be done. I believe I have put forward the reasons why the select committee process is an appropriate process which offers a more bipartisan approach. I have taken on board Mr Collaery's offer to brief me from time to time. He has not come forward so far, but I expect we can always live in hope.
To sum up, Mr Speaker, Mr Wood's motion is the good, responsible, open and consultative approach on this matter. Mr Collaery's so-called alternative proposition is no alternative at all. It is a proposition for decisions to be made behind closed doors, for consultation by way of edict at his whim, not at my request, and I think that he ought to be ashamed of himself for putting it forward.
MR STEFANIAK (11.22): I am rather amazed to hear the Leader of the Opposition talk about the committee system and the need for this particular committee, when she has
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