SOCIAL POLICY - STANDING COMMITTEE

Inquiry into Community Consultation

MS TUCKER: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the Assembly, pursuant to standing order 246A, that by motion on 25 May 1995 as amended on 26 June 1995 the Standing Committee on Social Policy resolved to inquire into and report on community consultation, specifically in relation to social policy issues. The terms of reference are:

(1) inquire into processes of community consultation for:

(a) the development of legislation;

(b) the development of policy;

(2) identify and report to the Assembly on effective means of community consultation.

I ask for leave of the Assembly to move a motion in relation to the inquiry.

Leave granted.

MS TUCKER: I move:

That:

(1) if the Assembly is not sitting when the Standing Committee on Social Policy has completed its discussion paper on the community consultation inquiry, the Committee may send its discussion paper to the Speaker or, in the absence of the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker, who is authorised to give directions for its printing, circulation and publication;

(2) the foregoing provisions of this resolution have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.

Mr Speaker, I will be speaking in greater detail once the discussion paper has been tabled, as this is an issue of great importance to the residents of the ACT and it is important that members of the Assembly take the issue seriously. Ms McRae has already moved a motion regarding consultation on legislation. This is one of the issues considered in the report. Many community groups in the ACT are developing or already have developed their own consultation strategies in recognition of the need to involve people affected by any particular decision in the process of arriving at that decision. The community is demanding that processes be transparent and clear, that feedback be provided after consultation and that decision-making bodies be represented.

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