Page 4227 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 29 November 1994
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Exactly what is the substance? Let us give our media some credit. They want to follow a story; and there is not much of a story in recommendations such as:
The Committee recommends that the Attorney-General review the cost of providing ... training for Justices of the Peace ...
For goodness sake! Compare the quality of this document with that of previous years and ask yourselves: Have we really got value for money for the 10 hours, or whatever it was, that the committee spent deliberating on these matters?
Madam Speaker, let me illustrate what I am saying by quoting from pages 10 and 11 of this report. This is the language which is being used:
The Committee notes ...
The Committee noted ...
The Committee welcomed ...
The Committee also welcomed ...
The Committee recognises ...
The Committee welcomes ...
The Committee took the opportunity to question ...
The Committee recognises ...
The Committee also recognises ...
The Committee was interested in finding out how well agencies were performing ...
For goodness sake! Are you a member of the Government, Ms Szuty? Listen to this:
The Committee was interested in finding out how well agencies were performing in terms of financial management and reporting.
The situation with respect to the diesel fuel exemption scheme in this Territory, where we have had no reporting by the Government on this question, when officers would not even answer questions about that issue, is not a matter for praise. It is a matter for condemnation. It is a matter for regret. What does this report say? It says, "We welcome those sorts of things". Madam Speaker, the committee system in this Assembly has come to a very sad pass, and we have to regret the fact that we have seen this sort of report tabled in the Assembly. I do not want to see this sort of report tabled ever again in this place.
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