Page 3367 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 September 1991
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Clause 65
MR MOORE (3.58): Mr Speaker, I thought I would take this opportunity to present some of the positive aspects of this Bill, particularly with reference to clause 65, on the disclosure of committee members' interest. I have with me a series of complaints concerning the Research Students Association's child-care arrangements with regard to family care services. There is a range of complaints in respect of that organisation, including one concerning difficulties with a committee member's interest.
This sort of conflict of interest in a voluntary association is the sort of business that this Bill is about tackling. I believe that the conflict of interest of a member in the particular situation referred to would have been resolved had this law been in place - and that particular situation would have involved the possibility of a penalty of some $2,000. This Bill provides the tools with which to deal with associations such as this one when they get out of order.
I am aware of a series of situations where this same association, at annual general meetings, has not followed its constitution as an incorporated body. This legislation will provide a situation whereby associations can be held by law - quite strong law - to acting appropriately in terms of their annual general meetings and constitutions. As far as I am concerned, this particular organisation has not acted in an entirely appropriate manner. It is important to understand that, while people generally become involved with these associations with the very best intentions, they can lose sight of their responsibilities to others. In this particular case I believe that some of the problems may be due to personalities.
Nevertheless, it is important that organisations observe their responsibilities. In this case, the Research Students Association and Family Day Care Incorporated have responsibility for family day care arrangements - and they have a monopoly over these arrangements on the north side of Canberra. Where such a monopoly exists with reference to provision of funding through the Federal Government, it is even more important that things are carried on above board, because quite large sums - over $100,000 - are involved.
Whilst I believe that in the vast majority of cases those funds have been distributed equitably and appropriately, certainly a number of situations and a series of complaints have been brought to my attention, which include the failure to stay within the realms of what an incorporated body can do and the failure to stay within the organisation's constitution. Therefore, this particular clause in the Bill is of great importance, and I believe that it is appropriate for it to receive members' support.
Clause agreed to.
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