Page 4290 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 20 November 1990
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We believe that the latest the committee should be formed is at the time of the introduction of the Appropriation Bill by the Treasurer. If this had occurred on this occasion that would have given us an extra week, to the total time of seven weeks, from formation to the reporting date. Most importantly, it will allow hearings to commence in the first available non-sitting week. The committee could even be formed prior to the winter adjournment.
We believe that Ministers and agency heads should be aware each year that the Estimates Committee hearings will generally be held in the first block of non-sitting weeks following the introduction of the Appropriation Bill, and - - -
Ms Follett: We have read it, Bill.
MR STEFANIAK: Have you? Good. They should be prepared to attend hearings at that time. The committee was of the view that there is no barrier to the establishment of a standing committee on estimates to which the Appropriation Bill would be referred each year a matter that could be considered, if not next year, in the next Assembly. We recommended, accordingly, that the future Estimates Committee be established at the time of the introduction of the Appropriation Bill into the Legislative Assembly by the Treasurer at the latest.
The committee also looked at ways of improving accountability. Indeed, this year it chose two areas for detailed examination, namely, travel and the use of consultants. The committee that examined the witnesses - I was not part of that - felt that that was beneficial. Accordingly, it felt that the future Estimates Committee could consider selecting at least two areas service-wide for a detailed examination each year. Those areas would not be indicated but would be selected so that, effectively, all departments would be on their toes and would make sure all the i,s were dotted and the t,s crossed, and everything was in order when the information was provided to their Ministers to go before the Estimates Committee.
The committee also felt, in addition to that, that it would be of value for each Estimates Committee to select one subprogram per portfolio to examine in detail, so that that went right across the areas of responsibility for the five relevant people appearing before the committee - namely, you, Mr Speaker, and the four Ministers - and, accordingly, that recommendation in paragraph 4.17 was made.
I think a lot of the comments made and the dissenting remarks by Mr Connolly and Mr Wood in relation to school closures really do not have too much to do with the Estimates Committee but just have a lot to do with politicking. Nevertheless, and despite that, a number of very sensible suggestions for improvement have been made by this year's Estimates Committee.
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