Page 3202 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 11 September 1991
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Moore acknowledged, occasionally these associations become hotbeds of community intrigue. There is sometimes nothing more intriguing than a community based organisation, as Mr Moore knows.
The other amendment I foreshadow seeks to ensure that at the very beginning of meetings there is full and frank disclosure of auditors' reports, that they are not tabled at 11 o'clock at night, when the membership has dwindled, without sufficient copies being available on the floor to get around. How many of us have been to small voluntary association meetings where the audit report is done by a good friend who knows how to use a red biro - and I do not include Mr Kaine in that, although he does use a red biro. Those volunteers are well placed in that regime.
You get a different tidemark in the affairs of associations when well-intentioned people - perhaps accountants with primary qualifications but not in the company audit role, which is an entirely more onerous role - are doing the job. I think the Attorney understands the problem that exists for him and for all of us when we are approached by members of these voluntary committees who say that they are not happy with something that is being done.
I believe that this is a good Bill. It is an excellent drafting effort. It sets the best benchmark in this country now, according to the Australian Accounting Research Foundation Legislation Review Board, which in July 1991 published a position paper on associations incorporation Acts within Australia. The most recent legislation prior to this was the 1987 Western Australian Act, so it is a creditable effort in the early stages of our self-government. I commend the Bill and foreshadow the changes that I think are necessary.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (3.31), in reply: Mr Speaker, in closing the debate at the in principle stage: It is clear from the comments in the chamber that all groupings in this place are in favour of the broad outline of this Bill. Mr Collaery's foreshadowed amendments have just been circulated. They comprise four closely typed pages and propose a fairly substantial alteration to clause 75, dealing with auditors' powers and duties. I suggest that they be dealt with at a later time and that we adjourn the detail stage of the Bill. It was certainly the practice when we were in opposition and had detailed amendments that we would try to float them with the Government in advance of the debate.
I am sure Mr Collaery appreciates that it would not be responsible for me as Attorney to agree to this level of detail on the floor of the house. Indeed, I think it would be bad for government, because these are detailed and complex matters. If we start making changes in a rush on the floor of the chamber, there is always the danger of an error being made. I listened with interest to what Mr
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