Page 3097 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 November 1992
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have some purpose; otherwise there is no point in going through the quite laborious exercise of the Estimates Committee. Therefore, we hope that some of the committee's recommendations will be picked up and acted upon. I am not convinced, incidentally, that that has been the case in the past, but I believe that we owe it to the Assembly and certainly to the electorate to ensure that the recommendations we have put down are in fact followed up.
I would have liked more time to examine the various programs within the estimates process. I do not say that we should extend the sitting times of 9 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at night. However, it is a pity that we could not extend the sittings over a few more days - instead of 10 days, perhaps a fortnight or something of that nature. I appreciate that there are difficulties associated with doing that. Nevertheless, I think that merits further examination, because I believe that all members would get more out of the estimates process under such an arrangement. It would enable more intelligent questions, though I certainly found all questions asked while I was present to be extremely intelligent.
Mr Kaine: They were very intelligent.
MR CORNWELL: Indeed, particularly as the majority of them were asked by this side of the house. Trying to truncate these quite important estimates into a period of 10 days between the hours of 9 o'clock in the morning and 10 o'clock at night, with breaks for meals, is a little heavy going.
I also welcome the opportunity arising from the proof transcript of the committee proceedings to be able to raise further questions on notice or even in the house at question time. This is an extension of the estimates process which we should encourage and should follow. I would also welcome earlier receipt of draft reports from the various departments. I think most members who were involved found that receiving these draft reports - - -
Debate interrupted.
ADJOURNMENT
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! It being 9.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I require that the question be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
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