Page 2004 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 June 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The Liberal Party will be accepting amendments to be moved by the Government after discussions with the Liberals and the Independents. Those amendments concern the number of people on the committee and also the committee reporting date. However, should the Government's timetable not be in line with what was explained to us this morning by the Chief Minister and senior officers in the ACT public service who came to see me, Mr Moore and other members as well, we have an assurance from backbench government members that the life of this committee may be extended. This is a very important issue. It is an issue that all of the people in the ACT should be having an input on. The best way for them to have that input is to have a select committee made up of elected members of people of the ACT, to make sure that the proposal goes through smoothly and to make sure that the ACT does have a very cost-effective public service and perhaps the best public service that money can buy.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (11.28): Madam Speaker, in reading Mr De Domenico's motion, it is quite apparent that nobody could disagree with the principles that he has outlined in the first part of his motion. For example, I agree that the establishment of a separate ACT public service is a very important issue and that it is of concern to the entire ACT community, and I have made a number of public statements in that vein. I certainly agree, Madam Speaker, that the financial implications of the separation from the Commonwealth, as well as the current and future terms and conditions of employment for affected employees, are also an extremely important issue.
I agree, as I have said many times, on the importance of full consultation on this issue, including public consultation. Indeed, Madam Speaker, I have reported to the Assembly on some public consultation that has occurred, including seminars on the values and principles that ought to apply to the ACT public service. Those seminars included a range of representatives from all sorts of community bodies and have proved to be extremely valuable. I agree also, Madam Speaker, that the opportunity should certainly be taken to establish a highly professional, innovative, flexible and cost-effective public service and one which will have as its task to serve the ACT community. So there is nothing in that preamble with which I would take issue.
Madam Speaker, I think it might be useful to outline to the Assembly some issues regarding the timeframe for the establishment of the separate ACT public service. The Government has successfully negotiated with the Commonwealth Government a timeframe for implementation. I think it is very important that we all acknowledge that the Commonwealth has to take action here as well. Madam Speaker, what we have negotiated is that the legislation for the ACT public service should be in place by no later than 1 July 1994. We have negotiated also that the Commonwealth Government will match our legislation program. They have to legislate as well, and they will introduce their complementary legislation at the same time as the ACT legislation is introduced into the ACT Assembly.
Madam Speaker, we have had other successful negotiations with the Commonwealth - for example, in terms of the Commonwealth's obligations under their own legislation to consult. Those consultations are proceeding quickly at the moment and proceeding very well. A slight hiccup was caused by the Federal election. That has been overcome, and the consultations between the trade union movement, the Commonwealth and the ACT are proceeding well.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .