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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (26 November) . . Page.. 3142 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

and Executive? If they are, it is unprecedented. It is contrary to the Westminster system of parliament as it is practised in this place and as it is practised, I understand, in the Federal Parliament. It is a proposition that I do not believe members of this Assembly should accept for a moment.

Ms Carnell: Would you rather have me?

MR CORBELL: The Chief Minister asks whether I would rather have her. No, I would not, because you are a member of the Cabinet too. In fact, I would not have any of you who are in Cabinet. It is not because of your individual personalities; it is not because of how you behave; it is not because of what you think. It is because you are members of the Executive; it is because you are members of Cabinet. The question I would like to ask in this place is: What does this say of you, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, and of Mr Cornwell, the Speaker? What is the ministry saying about you and Mr Cornwell? Are they saying you are incapable of sitting on this committee? I certainly hope not. I certainly hope they are not reflecting on your ability - - -

Ms Carnell: Mr Hird is on eight committees, and he is supposed to have more time.

MR CORBELL: If the Chief Minister wants to speak, I am sure she can stand up. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I certainly hope they are not reflecting on your capability to participate in this inquiry. I certainly hope they are not reflecting on even Mr Cornwell's capability to participate and act as the government member in this inquiry. It would seem to me that that is one conclusion members of this Assembly and members of the community could draw if a Minister was appointed instead of one of the non-Executive members of the Government. I certainly think it would be an entirely valid conclusion to draw if it did occur.

The Government is very keen to have someone on the committee arguing their case. That is an entirely legitimate course of action for the Government to take, but there is a convention in this place which says that a Minister, a member of the Cabinet, should not participate in the deliberative hearings of a committee of this Assembly. This is a dangerous blurring of the line between the Executive and the legislature. It is something which we saw the Chief Minister try to do about a year ago, or a bit earlier, with her Executive committees. Remember the Executive committees, the ones that the Clerk had some very interesting things to say about which were very informative to all members? Remember how they were received? That is exactly the sort of attitude which is leading to the Government proposing that Mr Humphries sit on this committee. I would remind Mr Rugendyke of that, if he is listening to this debate. I hope he is listening to this debate.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, you will address your remarks to the Chair.

MR CORBELL: I am certainly hoping that Mr Rugendyke is listening to this debate. It is important to remember that the Executive committee proposal was completely rejected by this place. It was rejected by people who have expertise in the principles of the separation of powers, the operations of a parliament and the operations

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