Page 3516 - Week 11 - Thursday, 14 October 1993
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It was the Chief Minister, Ms Follett, in fact, who quite kindly gave a brief to the select committee when the Assembly finally established it. It was a long awaited brief, we recall, for which the Chief Minister should be thanked because it was a very thorough brief, as far as it went. The brief could not be given to the committee before the submission, and the submission was due later than the committee envisaged. The whole timetable was stalled slightly because of the late arrival of the brief.
I know that the Government has a definite timetable for the separation. It would like to see such a separation take place in May next year, coincidentally - and it is an interesting coincidence - with the fifth anniversary of self-government. Perhaps that might be an appropriate time also for things to start to move. Given the Government's reluctance to be brisk with this matter - I am not suggesting that it should have been brisk - I doubt that this timetable will hold. I hope that it does. We want to make sure that if it does hold it is done properly. It could be a good thing, as I said, if it is not done quickly, given the Government's obvious past record on consultation. The more time it takes, the more chance, however slim perhaps, there will be that people who will be affected by these changes will be consulted. Madam Speaker, I would like to read a letter in relation to consultation that was received. It is dated 1 October 1993, and it is from Mr Allan Anforth, director of the ACT Council of Social Service. It reads as follows:
To all Agencies
Dear Colleagues,
We have now had the opportunity to read the full submission by the ACT Government to the Legislative Assembly on the setting up of the ACT Public Service, which includes, as appendices, a number of other Government policy documents.
Whilst there is much interesting detail and good policy contained in this submission, there is one notable, glaring omission!
With the exception of one brief passing reference on page 8 of "Strategic Directions for the ACT Government Service", there is not a single reference or thought given to the role and importance of public consultation by the public servants in policy formulation. There is no suggestion that it forms any part of the values, ethics, standards or otherwise of the proposed ACT Public Service!
It is not that the issue was not raised with the Government. ACTCOSS raised it at the "Symposium on Government Values" which forms the basis of much of the submission, although no reference is made to this fact in the Report on the Symposium.
This is an important issue. Please let me have your views in writing as soon as possible.
If the Sector's views indicate sufficient concern, ACTCOSS will endeavour to take the matter up in the political forum.
Yours sincerely,
Allan Anforth.
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