Page 1691 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 30 April 1991
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If the Opposition sees something trivial in that, I am afraid the triviality escapes me. I am astonished that they take this opportunity to go on with this play-acting campaign that they conduct from time to time. However, in conclusion, setting aside all of that rhetoric and all the play-acting, I do appreciate the fact that they, underneath it all, accept the rationality, the logic and the justification for this Bill.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Clause 1
MR BERRY (8.34): Mr Speaker - - -
Mr Moore: Appreciate the opportunity to speak.
MR BERRY: I do appreciate the opportunity to speak. Thanks for putting those words in my mouth, Mr Moore. It takes a little while for the word to sink into the minds of government members opposite, but this one is a good one. It is true that this legislation facilitates junkets. That is a sensitive issue for the Government, and the speed with which the Attorney-General rose to defend himself on this issue demonstrates that sensitivity. That is quite appropriate. But it is more appropriate for the Chief Minister to consider his position and his defence on the issue.
I would like to raise just one issue. A report to the Office of Public Sector Management of the Chief Minister's Department, which was prepared by Ernst and Young Management Consultants, Canberra, ACT in March 1991, said on page 34:
The status of the ACT Government as a State gives rise to a temptation to argue that the ACT needs to participate in, and contribute to, all of the formal and informal inter-governmental coordination mechanisms that have been established and are currently operating. There are, for example, over 30 inter-governmental Ministerial Councils and well in excess of 200 inter-governmental agreements. Many of these are in the Health and Education area.
Listen to this:
The scale of ACT participation in inter-governmental discussion and negotiation needs to be carefully weighed in terms of the costs and benefits.
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