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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 1429 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

Mr Speaker, on 25 June this year the Assembly referred to my committee the exposure draft of the Environment Protection (Amendment) Bill and asked that the committee report on 1 September this year. The committee is unable to meet the deadline because several key organisations affected by the proposed legislation wish to submit detailed comments on the draft Bill but these organisations cannot do so in the short time available. The secretary of the committee expects these submissions to be available next week, and accordingly my committee is making arrangements for a possible public hearing on this matter on Friday, 11 September. After that hearing we hope to produce a report in quick time so as to be able to table a report in the parliament on 22 September. I thank members.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR CORBELL (10.56): Mr Speaker, I move:

That the development of a code of conduct for all Members of the Legislative Assembly be referred to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure for inquiry and report with particular reference to:

(1) parliamentary and personal conduct;

(2) conflict of interest, including a Member's affiliation or membership of any organisation or association that could potentially constitute a conflict of interest;

(3) gifts;

(4) use of public office;

(5) the application of section 14 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Commonwealth); and

(6) a complaints and investigation procedure.

This is an issue which has come before the previous Assemblies and was referred to the Administration and Procedure Committee for inquiry and report in the last Assembly. Unfortunately, due to the time constraints of that committee, it was not able to finalise a report for the Third Assembly, but the membership of the new Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure has felt it appropriate to request this Assembly to direct it again to investigate and report on this issue, simply because issues of parliamentary and personal conduct of members are issues of significant concern in our community. It is, we believe, appropriate that this Assembly develop a code of parliamentary and personal conduct for members of this place.

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