Page 2729 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 20 October 1992
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MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, thank you. I take your point that this Bill is before the Assembly, and we should not pre-empt the passage of the Bill or of any part of it. I would like to make clear to members that at this stage the Government has given no consideration to how that position might be filled. I would like, however, to say that we have put on the record the government approach to the filling of agency head positions in general, and that is a public statement, which does involve, as I have said on many occasions, a merit selection process, advertising of positions, and the arrangement of a selection panel, if another Minister is involved, in consultation with me.
We have made a number of appointments in recent times, some of which have involved a staff member, others of which have not. I think it would be quite unfair of members opposite to assume what might be the composition of any selection panel which might be involved in putting together a recommendation to the Government for the filling of any position. Clearly, this question is aimed rather at casting a slur on previous appointments than on the matter that is in hand. I really do believe that the way that the Government handles appointments is fair and does adequately reflect the nature of the relationship between an agency head and his or her Minister. As I have said, Madam Speaker, we have gone in for an open process like that, which is in contrast to Mr Kaine's actions; he simply took the decision. Mr Kaine and his colleagues ask us to believe that a staff member is in some way more political than he is. Really, that is just sheer nonsense.
Madam Speaker, as I say, the Government has not considered the question that Mr Humphries raises. I can assure members that, if and when we do consider that matter on the passage of the Bill, and that particular part of it, the arrangements made for the filling of the position will be fair, will be open, and will, perhaps most importantly, be a subject of scrutiny by this Assembly.
MR HUMPHRIES: I ask the Chief Minister whether the Government has at the present time a policy which applies to the composition of selection committees of the kind to which she just referred, and whether that policy makes reference to participation by staff members on selection committees?
MS FOLLETT: No, Madam Speaker. As I have repeatedly said, the composition of a selection panel is at present a matter for discussion between me and the Minister. They have varied. In the appointment of the Auditor-General there was no such staff member on the panel; in other ministerial arrangements there has been. Members opposite continue to try to make this point, Madam Speaker; that one member of a panel can sway the other three, or however many it is. This is extremely insulting to some very prominent members of our community. It is an extraordinary assertion.
Industrial Relations
MR LAMONT: My question is to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Industrial Relations. I refer you to the perennial opposition's industrial relations policy launched today in which they say that they intend to abolish industrial arbitration. How will this affect workers in the ACT?
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