Page 3917 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 9 November 1994
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Mr Lamont has overlooked the fact that this Bill that we are trying to debate this morning was introduced into this Assembly on 23 February this year, a long time ago. Guess what? Who was a member of the public sector committee then? Mr Lamont. If he thought that it was necessary that the matter be dealt with in the committee of which he was a member, and a member for some time afterwards, why did he not move to have it so discussed? He did not think it was appropriate then, but he seems to think it is appropriate now. All I can say to Mr Lamont and to members of the Government, as in the last debate, is: Stand up for the courage of your convictions, debate the matter and deal with it. Do not bring forward these spurious arguments to say that we should not be debating it. That is not what this place is about. It is no wonder that in some cases this place is held in fairly low repute, when people simply will not face up to the issues because they do not want to.
MS SZUTY (11.30): I am rather intrigued by this debate. It is my belief that the Standing Committee on the Public Sector can still consider Mrs Carnell's Bill in the context of our terms of reference. I would like to remind members of what those terms of reference are. I quote from the Minutes of Proceedings of 16 June 1994:
Public Sector - Standing Committee - appointment: Mr Kaine, pursuant to notice, moved - That:
1. a Select Committee on the Public Sector be appointed to examine the implementation of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and any associated legislation with particular reference to ...
It goes on. I believe that members will recall the very extensive debate we had on the Government's proposed section with regard to whistleblowers, when the report of the Select Committee on the Establishment of an ACT Public Service reported to this Assembly. It was certainly my understanding, as a member of that committee, that the issue would indeed be further dealt with before the conclusion of this year. I note Mr Kaine's comments about the right of a private member - - -
Mr Kaine: We are not talking about the issue. We are talking about this Bill.
MS SZUTY: I understand that, Mr Kaine. I understand that you are making the point of the right of a private member to decide the fate of their Bill. Mr Deputy Speaker, it was certainly my understanding that the Bill and the issue are currently before the Standing Committee on the Public Sector. That seems to me to be the most sensible place, the most logical place, to resolve the issues about whistleblower provisions. The Select Committee on the Establishment of an ACT Public Service decided in its report, as I said, to adopt the Government's provisions in relation to whistleblowers. Extensive comment was included in that report about our need to look more extensively at the issue. I really am perplexed that Mrs Carnell has decided to bring this Bill forward for debate today, with very lengthy amendments, which I first saw yesterday afternoon. I would have to say, Mr Deputy Speaker, that I am still perplexed because I believe that it is an issue that is before the Standing Committee on the Public Sector.
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