Page 4460 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 1993
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The Northern Territory has a public service based on the Commonwealth model at its transition in 1978. Some changes, again based on the Commonwealth public sector model, have been made over the first 10 years of its life. But over the last seven or eight years it has developed a very local flavour because of the substantial government majority that exists in the Northern Territory whereby the level of parliamentary scrutiny imposed upon the administration is less than I would suggest we in this chamber, even with a majority government, would find acceptable. All of the administrations that have been in charge of the ACT public sector have believed strongly that public administration in the ACT should be accountable through the Public Accounts Committee and other methods. The way we currently operate in the ACT probably makes us the most open of the three administrations that we have looked at.
In conclusion, notwithstanding those observations, Madam Speaker, it is interesting to note that both South Australia and the Northern Territory - which, quite frankly, are starting from a base further back than we are - are arriving at a similar position. It will be interesting to see that reflected in the ACT's draft legislation to be tabled by the Government, for in the briefing that we have already received from the Government they have quite clearly said that one of the bases of the preparation of their public service Act is indeed the 1985 model and the changes that have been made since. Madam Speaker, it has been interesting to date; but, as the old saying goes, we live in interesting times, and I am confident that this matter will get more interesting over the next two to three months.
MS SZUTY (12.22): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to comment briefly on the statement made by Mr De Domenico regarding an ACT public service.
Leave granted.
MS SZUTY: I note the extensive and eloquent comments made by both Mr De Domenico and Mr Lamont in relation to the establishment of a separate ACT public service. I note, as Mr Lamont noted, that committee members are still formulating their views. At this time I recognise that, with the many issues involved, this committee has a major task to perform early in 1994 to ensure that the Assembly actively contributes to discussion and debate on a separate ACT public service. I supported the establishment of this particular select committee because I believe that the Assembly has a very important role to play in overseeing the whole of the process from the point of view of informing ourselves more than anything else about the new arrangements which will apply, hopefully, from the middle of next year.
I have appreciated very much meeting with those people from both South Australia and the Northern Territory indicated in the tabled paper. I note that South Australia in many respects is considered to be the model of best practice and that the Northern Territory has already established its own public service. It was very interesting for committee members to visit both South Australia and the Northern Territory to gain at first hand experience of what has happened in that State and that Territory. I am sure that committee members look forward to the tabling of the anticipated legislation by the Chief Minister, which will mark, I believe, the beginning of intense activity by committee members in further considering the issues and scrutinising the process.
Sitting suspended from 12.24 to 2.30 pm
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