Page 1832 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 15 June 1993
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Mr Berry: You will not mention the name. We might as well have a look.
MR DE DOMENICO: Okay, I will, after I have finished. I will mention the name if you like. It was a Mr Peter Burnett, assistant secretary, Management Improvement Branch. This is dated 20 November 1992 and it says this at point No. 3:
More detail is necessary on the form of a new authority and the transitional arrangements which will be required. A threshold issue needs to be addressed, however, if a shift to a statutory authority is to be proposed. That issue is whether it is necessary to continue with a Board overseeing the management of ACTTAB. The contribution of the Board to the performance of the TAB, particularly in achieving returns to the Government, relative to the costs of having such a Board warrants critical appraisal.
It goes on and point No. 4 says:
In particular, there is the possibility that Boards are liable to capture by industry interests at the expense of the broader community interest. There has been some indications of this in the draft ACTTAB Statement of Corporate Intent 1992-5 where the primary objective stated was to increase turnover.
As if it is a sin to increase turnover to the people of the ACT, for heaven's sake. It continues:
This benefits the racing clubs but at the expense of returns to the Government which are based on profits.
Mr Kaine: Heaven forbid any management improvement that would increase turnover.
MR DE DOMENICO: That is right. It goes on to say:
Tighter ministerial control and redirection of resources in the best interests of the community in general could be achieved without the need for a Board.
So here is another confidential Cabinet document saying, "Once we appoint this board you can get rid of it. Get rid of it and let it report directly to Mr Berry". I will table that, Madam Speaker, with the approval of the Assembly, of course.
Leave granted.
MR DE DOMENICO: Let us talk about another issue that Mr Berry is interested in, the industrial relations area. Look at ACTTAB Ltd. It has its own industrial agreement, Madam Speaker, negotiated with the Federated Clerks Union, which is based upon conditions applying in other Australian TABs. Mr Berry is all in favour of mirror agreements. We actually mirror the agreements put into place in other Australian TABs. The agreement has been in place for many years, as Mr Berry is well aware, and has the support of the company itself, ACTTAB Ltd, the staff, and the union, as an appropriate basis for TAB employment.
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