Page 4013 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 23 November 1993
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The recommendations in this report should not be read in isolation; people who are going to consider them ought to read the report in its entirety. I say that with two examples particularly in mind. Recommendation 3.68 and recommendation 3.112 both suggest that certain actions be undertaken. I fully support that; but, if you read either the transcripts of the hearings or the report, you will see that in both those cases the Minister stated that the recommended action is in fact under way or is about to be undertaken. I think it is reasonable to expect people to understand that in some cases the recommendations the committee is making pre-empt something that is already under way or is going to be considered.
I have no problem in agreeing with all of the 40 recommendations in the report except for the two that Mr Lamont has mentioned. I might add that my thoughts on those two recommendations are also noted in the minutes. I recall that when they were noted some members of the committee had already left, even though the meeting had not finished. There was a certain amount of noise, and I am not surprised if those who remained were unaware that I made those notes.
Mr Moore: Hear, hear!
MS ELLIS: Thank you, Mr Moore. I think you realise that that is true. Recommendation 3.57 suggests that the Social Policy Committee consider a particular reference. I am chair of that committee. There is no doubt that that Social Policy Committee will in fact consider that; but I have no idea at this stage when that can be done, given that we already have two comprehensive inquiries - one already very much under way and one about to be undertaken. That does not in any way mean that the committee will not examine the issue, but it may be a little while before we are able to do it justice.
Ms Szuty noted in her presentation speech the rather interesting aspects of dealing with a large number of people on a committee, all of whom have wide-ranging views on the issues at hand. As a member of the committee and a member of the Government, I want to attest to that aspect and sincerely compliment Ms Szuty on her role as chairperson. I think she guided the process through in a very useful fashion, sometimes in fairly difficult circumstances when - fair enough - people were attempting to have their particular views reflected more than other members of the committee probably wished. Ms Szuty's role as chairperson was a very valuable one. I think that all members of the committee learned a great deal. As it was only my second experience in this process, I did. Ms Szuty learned from being chair for the first time last year. Her performance this year can only be put down to that experience. The whole process has been incredibly valuable to everyone.
My thanks also go to Karin Malmberg and to her team. The amount of paperwork that they had to go through had to be seen to be believed. One comment consistently made by all members of the committee, no matter which part of this Assembly they come from, was, "How can we see each other over the pile of paper?". Karin and her team did a marvellous job in putting in front of us various drafts of the report that we could work with and comprehend easily. They condensed a large volume of material into a succinct document. My praise goes to Karin. Except for recommendations 3.24 and 3.48, which I am uncomfortable with, as has been recorded in the committee minutes, I think this is basically a very good report. A great deal of work has gone into it and I have no problem at all, under those circumstances, in endorsing the report.
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