Page 2683 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 1991
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I believe that for the Auditor-General of the Territory to get to the point where he has to put a report to this Assembly to set out the circumstance and the predicament in which he finds himself is totally unacceptable. It is typical of the procrastination of this Government and its inability to make a decision about anything. We saw an example this afternoon. Mr Berry sat on a report for some time before he deigned to tell this community or this Assembly anything about his $50,000 report on the hospital.
Mr Berry: I take a point of order, Mr Speaker. Mr Kaine was given leave to make a statement in relation to the Auditor-General.
MR KAINE: And I am making it, Mr Speaker. This procrastination, this inability to make a decision about anything, is typical, and it is quite appalling that our Auditor-General is put into this situation. It is time for the Government to rectify it. All that is required to rectify it is to give him a tenured appointment, even if only until the end of this current fiscal year, during which time you have ample time, if you so desire, to go and find somebody else for a long-term appointment.
Mr Berry: Don't be so angry; just read the letter.
MR KAINE: I have read from cover to cover the report which the Auditor-General has submitted to this place, and he shows you lot up to be in a pretty poor position, quite frankly - an appalling position. You have a total lack of understanding of what the office of Auditor-General is about. Obviously, you totally misunderstand the fact that he is required, as a statutory officer, to be totally independent of your influence, not subject to your whim as to whether you can fire him or not from day to day. Get your act together.
Mr Connolly: So, why did you appoint him for 12 months, 18 months out from an election? A 12-month trial period; that is what you did.
MR KAINE: Get your act together. Don't you tell me. I am telling you, Mr Connolly: Get your act together.
Mr Connolly: You appointed him for 12 months, 18 months out from an election.
MR KAINE: Exactly; and he was up for reappointment on 1 July, and you lot screwed it up. You screwed it up. You did not even have the decency to tell him what his status was until 23 July. No, do not throw the onus on me. Accept the responsibility yourself; that is where it lies. You are the Government; you have a responsibility to
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