Page 3991 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
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The committee has also noted that, with an extended period of preparation, it might also be possible to schedule a longer period of time for public hearings, enabling some days to be set aside for reading and preparation and, dare I suggest, resting in preparation for further hearings. In addition to the time spent during public hearings, a number of further written questions were forwarded to agencies for response. The committee appreciated receiving prompt responses from agencies. Again, this process contributed to the work of the committee evidenced in this report.
At the conclusion of public hearings this year, two weeks of Assembly sittings followed and it was simply not possible for members to actively consider material presented during public hearings and in response to written requests. The future passage of amendments to the self-government Act for the ACT by the Federal Parliament and further rescheduling of the estimates process in future years should ensure that a sufficient gap between sittings exists for the prompt completion of the Estimates Committee's deliberations and the passage of the Government's Appropriation Bill. Of course, likely future changes to the timing of the estimates process will also have a significant impact on the process in future years.
Madam Speaker, I have received a number of suggestions at various times from members about the possible reform of the estimates process. Concerns have been expressed about the time that individual members spend participating in the process. Suggestions have been made that a number of estimates committees could undertake the work of this committee, as occurs in other States and in the Senate estimates process of Federal Parliament, and that particular areas of government activity or specific issues only should be pursued. It is my belief, Madam Speaker, that the Assembly's current approach to the work of the Estimates Committee is appropriate and, with future amendment along the lines mentioned already, will fulfil our needs very well.
This current report is testimony to an effective estimates process - a process which includes thorough and extensive questioning by all non-Executive members of the Assembly, and a report which is cohesive, is comprehensive and takes a whole-of-government approach and perspective. The estimates process is an intensive and extensive process, but I believe that government is best served by rigorous scrutiny of its activities which occurs in this form once a year.
Before I comment on a number of the recommendations, Madam Speaker, I wish to comment on the structure of the report presented this year. The report has followed last year's format. The inquiry process is discussed first, followed by comment on the provision of information, identification of issues both general and specific, and an overview by agency and authority. A list of public hearings held and witnesses attending accompanies the report at Appendix A. I believe, Madam Speaker, that the format of the report is useful in that it demonstrates to the Assembly, agencies, the media and the general community the scope of the Estimates Committee's work.
Madam Speaker, the work of the Estimates Committee is best judged by its recommendations, which represent the result of the scrutiny of the Government's budget and associated activity. I would like to comment briefly on a number of them. The first recommendation concerns the practice of non-budget-dependent authorities appearing before the Estimates Committee.
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