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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 10 Hansard (7 December) . . Page.. 2812 ..

Mr Berry: When did you tell the electors that this was going to be the way you would go in regard to the public service?

MR OSBORNE: I told the electors I would be sensible, Mr Berry, and I think this is a sensible approach. As I said, I have a problem with trying to hide the contracts, but I will listen with great interest to what the Chief Minister has to say. I also have a problem with the compatibility clause. There are often times, as I said on the radio this morning, when I do not find myself very much in agreement with Mr Moore, who sits next to me, and I would like to rip up his contract because I do not find our views to be very compatible.

Ms Follett: I thought he was your captain.

MR OSBORNE: But I will put up with my captain. Mr Speaker, as I said, I support this Bill in principle, and I will listen with interest to the debate on the amendments, which will take place next week.

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (3.22): Mr Speaker, I am sorry that Mr Connolly is not here to hear the rebuttal of the comments he made about that document he tabled during question time, but they are quite important. If what Mr Connolly said were true, I think it would give us some concern about the way in which management of these important issues might be handled in any new wave public sector management model, and that is a point that is worth making. Unfortunately, they were not accurate, and he needs to go back and ask himself whether it is wise for him to jump to conclusions, particularly in such a voluble way on the floor of this place. Mr Connolly described that document he tabled, particularly page 2, as a recommendation accepted and to be implemented by the management committee of the Department of Health. The management committee referred to in that document was not the management committee of the Department of Health. It was the management committee of the Booz Allen reform process within the Department of Health, and that process does not have the power to implement decisions. It has the power to recommend to the - - -

Mr Berry: You did not read it either.

MR HUMPHRIES: I have read it, Mr Berry.

Mr Berry: Well, it did not soak in.

MR HUMPHRIES: You tell me where it says in there, "Management committee of the Department of Health".

Mr Berry: It says management have decided.

MR HUMPHRIES: No, that is not the point. There are lots of management committees around the place. There would be dozens of management committees.

Mr Berry: Put the old spin on it, Gary. Go for your life.

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