Page 1955 - Week 07 - Thursday, 31 May 1990
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In accordance with the motion of the Assembly last September, the report should now be referred to the Public Accounts Committee for consideration. While I look forward to the outcome of that process, the Government has decided that a number of matters require a prompt response.
In view of the committee's criticism of past Commonwealth administration of the ACT and the inadequate level of financial establishment assistance, which are recurring themes throughout the report, I have written again to the Prime Minister. In that correspondence I have drawn his attention to the findings of this independent committee of inquiry and I have sought, in the strongest possible terms, a more equitable financial deal from the Commonwealth.
The Government has asked Treasury to give priority to those recommendations which fall within the ambit of accounting policy and the development of a budgetary strategy for overcoming the backlog of repairs to our assets. The committee raises a number of issues concerning the underutilisation of assets and the establishment of asset management policies. These recommendations will be incorporated in the implementation processes which I have already announced for the report of the Priorities Review Board. Indeed, the Else-Mitchell report warrants close attention by the community, and I am writing to major organisations seeking their comments on it.
Mr Speaker, I have pleasure in tabling the report. In doing so I would like to thank, on behalf of the Assembly, these members of the committee - Mr Justice Rae Else-Mitchell; Dr Brian Galligan, deputy director of the centre for research on Federal financial relations of the Australian National University; and Mr Ian Mackintosh, partner in charge of the Canberra office of the accounting firm of Coopers and Lybrand - for their efforts and the fine manner in which the committee has pursued its task. I am also pleased to note that the committee expressed its particular appreciation for the contribution of the secretariat, and I add to that my Government's thanks. I present the following paper:
Assets and Debt - Committee of Inquiry - report, dated May 1990.
Mr Speaker, in accordance with the Assembly's motion of 28 September 1989, I move:
That the report be referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for inquiry and report.
MR MOORE (3.37): Mr Speaker, I will speak to this straightaway. To go to the Public Accounts Committee is an appropriate method of dealing with this and I must say that I am delighted that the report has been completed. Clearly, this should be bipartisan, in the sense that it is important for all members of this Assembly to know the
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