Page 4915 - Week 16 - Tuesday, 26 November 1991
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I believe that part of that division produces very credible and excellent statistical reviews and financial studies that set parameters within which high level economic think-tank and business promotion people can operate. I do not believe that there is sufficient initiative and sufficient drive in the Economic Development Division. I regret saying that. I generally found throughout the ACT Government Service that there was a great deal of willingness, that a great deal of work was done and that a great many long hours were worked. All of that might be said about the Economic Development Division, but I remain of the view that there is something structurally wrong that means that we do not get the innovation and the drive that our new economy wants.
I think it is most important that the Government recruit to head the division someone with a proven track record. We may have to pay more, but it would be a quite justifiable cost.
Mr Moore: Do you think you want the job next February?
MR COLLAERY: Mr Moore interrupts and asks whether I am thinking of a job next February. No, Mr Moore. I am quite confident of being back here, hopefully helping reconstruct the Economic Development Division - with you, perhaps. Certainly, it would be reconstructed, and certainly we would advertise for and recruit people who have a high level of proven expertise in that area. Once again, there may be people of that type in the Chief Minister's Department at some level, but at the moment the required drive is not there.
I do not believe that there is sufficient nexus between the Economic Development Division and the best investment and best development oriented minds in the Territory. I do not want to put it any higher than that. I am disturbed about the view expressed in some quarters of private industry about the Economic Development Division. It needs a boost. I said to the Chief Minister, when she took power again, that she should look at it. I accept that she is working under constraints. For as long as we have been here, the Rally has pressed for an economic advisory council, a form of the Federal EPAC, that will give alternative economic policy settings to those provided by the ACT Treasury.
The ACT Treasury is probably so learned, so skilful and so competent that there is a danger in having some organisation so clearly pre-eminent in the economic field. It would be wise of future ACT governments to have a separate economic advisory body. I see that recently the Chief Minister moved to do something in that area; but we wait to see exactly how that is formed, who is appointed and so forth. The Government then would be able to turn to people independent of government, independent of the public service, to ask whether the main policy settings are good. It has worked for Mr Hawke with EPAC. He has been able to entrust that body with the most confidential information.
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