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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (25 September) . . Page.. 3329 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

In fact, there have been very few examples where committees have even indicated their opposition to particular appointments. I think that is testimony to the operation of the system. It clearly indicates that the system can work, and I think that that is a good reason to make sure that it operates better by building in a minimum period of consultation.

Mr Speaker, the point I want to make, though, very strongly, about the Bill which is before us today is the rather breathtaking inconsistency of the Opposition in putting it forward, when they were absolutely and totally opposed to the principal legislation when it was introduced by Mr Moore in 1994.

Mr Berry: Things have changed.

MR HUMPHRIES: Things certainly have changed, Mr Berry. To say that things have changed is to put it very mildly.

Mr Berry: The whole Public Service has been politicised. Why would you not do this sort of thing?

MR HUMPHRIES: No, Mr Speaker. We know you will have excuses for why you have done a backflip, Mr Berry, but the fact is that you have. I will quote Mr Connolly, the then Attorney-General, speaking on the then Statutory Appointments Bill. He said this:

The Government will be opposing the Statutory Appointments Bill. We believe, for reasons that I have previously stated in this place, that this is an undesirable move by an Australian Westminster-style parliament towards a more American-style political system that would be unique in Australia. The Liberal Party, of course, are supporting this.

Then he went on to say how terrible it was that there were all sorts of problems with Liberal governments in Australia not being inclined to want to follow this lead. Well, that is their lookout, Mr Speaker. That is what I say to that. I quote Mr Connolly again:

We said that there is a danger in this because Canberra is a small community. Most of the boards that we appoint people to are unpaid. Many members of this Assembly have served on those sorts of unpaid boards ... Even if you are associated with a political party, if you are serving on a board it is a lot of time out of your day.

He went on to say that these people would be denigrated by being involved in these sorts of committees. Mr Speaker, this speech was full of hysteria; this is the end of the world; we are bringing Westminster-style government to an end; the system cannot possibly operate.

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