Page 4278 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 20 November 1990
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MR JENSEN: I move:
That the Assembly authorises the publication of the Minutes.
I do not propose to speak to the motion. I think it speaks for itself.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR JENSEN: Mr Speaker, I move:
That the report be noted.
The role of an estimates committee, as identified in House of Representatives Practice, on page 47, allows the parliament "to examine, more closely than is possible in the committee of the whole, the proposed expenditures contained in the main Appropriation Bill for each year".
Unlike the Federal Parliament and some States which have two houses of parliament, with an upper house as a house of review, this Assembly does not have such a provision.
Ms Follett: Thank heavens.
MR JENSEN: It is therefore appropriate to have an estimates committee process for this Assembly, and this year,s process followed on from the establishment of an estimates committee to consider the Follett Labor budget last year. I was pleased at that time to serve as the chair of that committee, as I did this year.
I would just like to comment very quickly, Mr Speaker, on an interjection that came across from Ms Follett in relation to the mention of the fact that there is only one house in the ACT. While I am not necessarily suggesting that there should be two, because clearly that would be ridiculous, I would want to make a comment in relation to what happened in Queensland over a number of years with the control of executive government over the Parliament because of the fact that there was no house of review. On that basis I think it is important that the committee system and - - -
Mr Berry: It was only because you conservatives had control of it.
MR JENSEN: I am afraid, Mr Berry, that I do not see myself as a conservative in the line of Uncle Joh, for example. I would have some difficulties with that, I would suggest. I would hate to be considered as a conservative in the line of Uncle Joh.
Mrs Grassby: Of course he is not conservative. He is only to the right of Genghis Khan, isn't he?
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