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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 1 Hansard (22 February) . . Page.. 178 ..

MR WOOD (12.05): Mr Speaker, I am pleased that Mr Moore's committee has undertaken the task of monitoring the implementation, if you like, of the report of the Commissioner for the Environment. It is a most important report, and I do think there needs to be as strong an oversight of how that is accepted and put into practice as possible. Certainly on this side of the house, we will do that; but I think an Assembly committee that has the power to call people in and ask questions face to face, to challenge and to get down to the great detail that is there will be a very effective way of proceeding. I congratulate the committee on doing that.

Not so long ago the present Minister brought down a report on how he was dealing with the commissioner's first report, and I think it agreed with the report in almost every instance. It agreed, but it was a very deceptive agreement. In fact, there has been no action flowing from it. It agrees that all sorts of things should happen but does not provide any resources for any future action or does not get down actually to showing that there will be action flowing from the commissioner's report. Agreement is one thing, but that agreement is of no use unless it is backed up by some money and by some serious intentions. I believe that the committee interest in this matter will go a long way to ensuring that that happens.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR SPEAKER: I remind members that question time will be filmed today, as the television crews wish to update their file footage.

Mr Wood: They are going to have to do it again in a couple of weeks when we get someone else here.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Wood, I appreciate what you are saying.

Mr Wood: That is ridiculous.

MR SPEAKER: You may think it is ridiculous, but that is what they have asked for.

Ms McRae: Mr Speaker, the normal custom is to approach both sides with a formal inquiry. May I take a point of order on that?

MR SPEAKER: Yes, you may.

Ms McRae: The normal process is for a formal approach to be made to both sides of the house and for approval to be sought.

MR SPEAKER: I am sorry. You were not approached on this matter?

Ms Follett: We have had no notification.

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