Page 1956 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 16 June 1993
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MR MOORE (5.25): Madam Speaker, I thought I would continue on from Mrs Grassby. The issue of allowances is raised in paragraph 5.8 of the committee's report. It states:
Two situations were identified, the payment of allowances where no allowances were included in the award, and secondly, the payment of allowances that are in the award but the employee has not undertaken the duties for which the allowance is payable. It was recognised that the review and enterprise bargaining process would resolve the first situation but the second was a management issue. The officials indicated that the process would not be completed quickly.
Madam Speaker, the committee was not able to get even an indication of how long it will be before that situation is resolved. I feel that that is inadequate, Madam Speaker. It is a situation that really does need to be addressed appropriately and quickly.
Madam Speaker, the other comments that I had intended to make have been made eloquently by the other members of the committee and I see no value in repeating them. I certainly have appreciated being part of this review and part of the Public Accounts Committee for not only this report, Madam Speaker, but also the one that was tabled yesterday. It is refreshing to see two reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in the last two days. No doubt we will be seeing more very shortly.
MR CORNWELL (5.27): Madam Speaker, I feel that I should rise, as I have been mentioned by at least one member of the committee. I would like to thank the committee for their consideration of this report. I am not at all surprised at the conclusions that were reached, because, in fact, one takes advice on these things and one presumes that the advice is correct. That was certainly the case as far as I am concerned. I note that the Auditor-General referred to the payment of this money relating to me as being inappropriate. That certainly has proven to be the case. I certainly support the views of the committee at paragraph 4.17, which reads:
Given the many years of government, management and accounting experience of both the Member and the staff member in question, the Committee reaches these conclusions with regret.
I share that regret. I do, indeed. I am pleased to say that they have recommended at paragraph 14.19 that this obvious confusion that involves three different areas in relation to the LA(MS) Act should be speedily resolved. I thank the committee for the report. I thank them for their comments. I understand that steps have been taken already to correct this anomaly and I certainly hope that we will not have that problem again.
Debate (on motion by Ms Follett) adjourned.
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