Page 4129 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 23 October 1991
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It is very interesting that Ms Follett had already set the scene for the proposals I suspect she is going to have in relation to the provision of staffing for members of the Assembly. In accordance with your past rulings, Mr Speaker, in relation to members being acknowledged as representing parties, when Mrs Nolan's party is registered, when Mr Duby's party is registered, when Ms Maher's party is registered, the Government will have to find the money if they are to continue with the proposal they started of providing leaders of parties with a certain amount of money - $49,505 on the old figures - for staff.
Mrs Nolan: Mr Duby already gets it.
MR JENSEN: Okay, Mr Duby gets it; that is two. That is still $14,000 the Government is going to have to find, over and above the amount of money that is currently allocated for staffing. Is Ms Follett, as the Chief Minister, going to do that if she is to maintain the salary arrangements for members' staff that she has already established? I will watch that with interest. Let me set one thing straight: This proposal I have put forward would solve that problem and ensure that additional money would not have to be found.
There is a need to enable any member of the Assembly to maintain contact with the electorate and represent their views and concerns. That really is what parliamentary representation is all about. Members and their staffs know full well the amount of information that flows across our desks on a daily basis and requires action. Ministers are provided with the support of their departments, as well as a larger number of personal staff. That is how it should be, especially with the large portfolio responsibilities of our Ministers.
Members of our small Assembly spend many hours on committees and, while we do have the committee staff to assist us in that role, we have nothing like the staff that committees have in the Federal Parliament. Mr Speaker, I have lost count of the number of committees I have been on since I have been in the Assembly, but at the moment I am on three standing committees. That requires me to undertake a certain amount of research if I am to do my job satisfactorily as a member of this Assembly.
It is also incumbent on members, particularly members of a forward-thinking organisation such as the Residents Rally, to put forward legislation. That legislation has to be prepared. Mr Berry is smirking over there. He should note the amount of legislation that has been brought forward in this place, prepared by a group of three members. He should note the amount of work that has gone into that.
Let me continue with this theme by giving an example of our own parliament. Since the Auditor-General was appointed, eight reports have been produced. This goes back to committee responsibilities. Members of the Public Accounts
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