Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 4 Hansard (18 April) . . Page.. 1116 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

making mental comparisons between our respective positions on things like paintball and X-rated videos; but I will not explore that, given that I am sure to be pulled up on the grounds of relevance. I hope that the approach we are taking on video classification is successful. A meeting of censorship Ministers is occurring in Brisbane in July, I think, where I hope there will be sympathetic consideration of this proposal by other Ministers.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Debate resumed from 28 March 1996, on motion by Mr Humphries:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MS FOLLETT (4.38): Mr Speaker, the Opposition will be supporting this Bill put forward by Mr Humphries. The Bill actually adds to the responsibilities of the Ombudsman by providing the Ombudsman with a jurisdiction over Territory-owned corporations and their subsidiaries. I think this is a very important step to ensure that decisions made by TOCs and all their subsidiaries are subject to the same degree of scrutiny as any other government-made or government-sponsored decision. There is another little step in the Bill. It excludes from the Ombudsman's jurisdiction action that is taken by the Master of the Supreme Court and the registrars and deputy registrars of the Supreme Court and Magistrates Court when they are performing a function of a judicial nature. Again, I think that is an entirely reasonable step for us to be taking.

Mr Speaker, the Ombudsman performs an absolutely invaluable role in our society by providing accountability in government decision-making. I am sure members are aware that the Commonwealth Ombudsman has provided this service to the ACT for some years now. It has been very much of concern to me to see the stated intention of the new Federal Government to massively reduce the resources allocated to the Ombudsman. I am very concerned that this will in fact reduce the Ombudsman's capacity to exercise that checks-and-balances function in relation to government decision-making. I think that the Ombudsman's Office is becoming increasingly crucial as we see what is the real agenda of our local ACT Territory Government behind the facade and the rhetoric of openness and accountability.

Mr Speaker, one of the actions that I would like to refer to is the closure by the Government of the FOI office in the ACT. It is a fact that that accountability function is now ever so much more difficult for people to access than it was in the past.

Members interjected.

MR SPEAKER: Order!

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .