Page 1644 - Week 06 - Thursday, 20 May 1993
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Mr Kaine: You are saying that the pay-off to the community has not been good enough. Labor ideology strikes again.
Mr Cornwell: Is he reflecting on the operations of the board?
MR BERRY: Look, you know about it. There was activity aimed at pushing for privatisation of ACTTAB, and you know about it. You know that we oppose privatisation. You are for privatisation for privatisation's sake. We know where you are coming from - just looking after your mates, lining them up outside there and saying to them: "The gravy train is here for you. Come and get it, fellas". That is the Liberal Party, not us. This is a valuable community asset. It is not for sale. The change to a statutory authority will ensure that it is better able to meet the Government's policy objectives while allowing for it to retain commercial and operational flexibility. The ACTTAB service to punters and its functions will remain unchanged. ACTTAB will operate under the same management arrangements, with a chief executive and a management board. You would know that under the present legislation the chief executive officer, the chair and the deputy chair are appointed by the board. That is just not good enough.
The legislation provides for me, or the responsible Minister, to appoint the chair and the deputy chair of the board and the chief executive officer, in consultation with the board, guaranteeing their accountability to the people of the ACT. It requires the responsible Minister to table in the Legislative Assembly any directions that are given to the board. That is accountability for you. This provision will ensure that all directions - every direction, every one of them - are open to scrutiny by the elected representatives of the people of the ACT. This is not some closeted little device which was set up by Mr Kaine and his little mob of helpers in the Alliance Government. This is about accountability. This is a monopoly that has no natural opponents in the ACT. There is no need for the process which was set up by the Alliance Government, except to set it up for some of their mates.
I will also appoint members of the board, who will be required to have the appropriate qualifications and experience relating to the functions of the board. The board will be required to provide quarterly reports to me, as Minister, as part of its performance assessment, and any contracts involving payments by the board in excess of $250,000 must have my approval. That is accountability.
Mr De Domenico: But you can do that now.
MR BERRY: You will be reported to regularly. The board, as a public authority, will be required to meet the requirements of the Audit Act 1989. In particular, it will have to provide reports under section 93 of the Act giving particulars of any directions given by the responsible Minister, and a statement by the board indicating how the directions have been given effect to. That is accountability - all on the table. I will also consult with the board in determining what part of any operating surplus in any financial year shall be paid to the Territory. That is accountability. The measures provided for in the legislation will provide for greater accountability of ACTTAB operations.
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