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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 8 Hansard (24 August) . . Page.. 2275 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

those six plates may well not be available for access by patrons who now use this service. There was no intention by the committee to interfere with the current licensing arrangements for the current six taxis for the disabled.

In concluding, Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the other members of the Urban Services Committee - Mr Corbell and Mr Rugendyke. I also thank our clerk, Mr Rod Power, for his exhaustive efforts to ensure the smooth conduct of the inquiry. My thanks also go to all those individuals and organisations who took the time to prepare submissions and to attend public hearings. Without their advice, the inquiry and this report could not have been so comprehensive.

This was a unanimous report by the committee and it was one that we did not take lightly. It should be of interest to other jurisdictions around Australia and New Zealand. I commend the report to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR STANHOPE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister will be aware of the Auditor-General's concerns expressed at the Estimates Committee hearings about the lack of understanding of the Financial Management Act shown by officials of the Office of Financial Management. Given the Auditor's concern, can the Chief Minister say whether a merit selection process was undertaken to fill the Chief Executive's position in the new Department of Treasury and Infrastructure, and will one be used for all other positions in the department?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, the person who is heading up the new department headed up the old area of OFM. It is the same job.

MR STANHOPE: I thank the Chief Minister for that answer. Can the Chief Minister say why the Government adopted a different rule with respect to the position of ACT Electoral Commissioner currently advertised, and which will apparently be filled on merit?

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I cannot make a comment with regard to the Electoral Commissioner. That would be Mr Humphries' responsibility. But I can make a comment with regard to the person who was heading up OFM and is now heading up the new Department of Treasury and Infrastructure. The Government has total faith in the person involved. He has performed extraordinarily well over the last few years since he took up the job.

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