Page 142 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994
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Madam Speaker, I believe that this Bill potentially will change the culture within the public service and will give people an ownership of their workplace. The Public Interest Disclosure Bill is an important part of a change in the basic culture of the public sector in Australia and in Canberra. Of course, that is the reason that all governments are now looking at such legislation. The aim of the Bill is to ensure that our system of government works, and works well, and the introduction of such legislation prior to the creation of a separate ACT Government Service would, I believe, be entirely appropriate. I commend the Bill to the Assembly and urge all members to support this landmark approach to public sector management in the ACT.
Debate (on motion by Ms Follett) adjourned.
STATUTORY APPOINTMENTS BILL 1994
MR MOORE (10.44): I present the Statutory Appointments Bill 1994.
Title read by Clerk.
MR MOORE: I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Madam Speaker, it is rather timely that this Bill should follow the Bill just tabled by Mrs Carnell. It is interesting that in her speech she referred to the backdown by the Attorney-General in terms of his attitude to whistleblowers less than a year ago and his attitude of approval now. I presume that we will see exactly the same thing with the Statutory Appointments Bill, about which Mr Connolly has been trying to whip up some media hysteria about a Star Chamber. No doubt we will see a change in his attitude in due time.
Mr Connolly: They all know what you will use this for. You will use it to pillory people under privilege.
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, I shall come back to that, to give Mr Connolly appropriate opportunity to interject. The Federal House of Representatives, Madam Speaker, is often referred to now as the House of Mates. It seems to me that one of the things that we must ensure in our chamber is that we do not get that sort of name. That is something we need to avoid. Mr Connolly, on ABC radio earlier in the week, pointed out that there has been no controversy over appointments that have been made in the last three years in the ACT. At that time I drew attention - - -
Mr Connolly: No; that is not what I said.
MR MOORE: Mr Connolly indicates that that is not what he said.
Mr Connolly: I said that you have never got a Minister in a scandal in this Government - unique in Australia.
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