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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 1 Hansard (30 April) . . Page.. 243 ..

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.35): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Sixth Carnell Ministry and Administrative Arrangements as contained in Gazette No. S100 of 31 March 1998, and the Seventh Carnell Ministry as gazetted in Gazette No. S112 on 28 April 1998. I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the papers.

Mr Speaker, I have tabled the Administrative Arrangement Orders for this Government, together with the new ministerial arrangements reflected by my announcement earlier this week of Mr Moore's appointment as Minister for Health and Community Care. I am particularly pleased to announce these changes in this first sitting week of the Fourth Assembly. These new arrangements show that this Government is committed to reform. We have implemented the Pettit review recommendation that effective government requires five Ministers. In doing this, we have followed the Pettit review's framework for widening the base of the Executive by including a member from the crossbenches.

The benefits for the Assembly from this arrangement are clear. The arrangement brings Mr Moore's considerable experience to the ministry, to a portfolio in which he has a special interest. It also brings a wider range of views to government and, I hope, takes us one step away from the limitations of government shaped by party allegiances. The revised Administrative Arrangements provide a significant move towards a more cooperative approach to government in the ACT. As the new arrangements directly align ministerial portfolios with departmental structures, reporting and accountability lines will be clear. Mr Moore's appointment makes this clearer. Now each Minister is responsible for a single department.

Mr Humphries will assume an additional role as Minister Assisting the Treasurer, which complements his appointment as a shareholder of the Government's corporatised entities. The new Administrative Arrangements bring a number of important functions into the Chief Minister's Department. In doing this, the Department of Business, the Arts, Sport and Tourism has been absorbed. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of Annabelle Pegrum, who has been the chief executive of BASAT for the past 18 months. Ms Pegrum is now the executive director of the new Office of Asset Management within my department. The office will manage land development, including the joint ventures at Gungahlin and Kingston.

A task force has been set up within the Office of Asset Management to report to government before the end of this financial year on the office's role in relation to property and land development. The business, tourism and arts functions of BASAT will come within my ministerial responsibilities. A new Office of Business Development and Tourism will include business development, employment policies and programs,

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