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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (15 February) . . Page.. 13 ..

MR HIRD (continuing):

Firstly, I am a member of a number of standing committees, as members would be aware, and have taken part previously with other members in the estimates processes. I must say that the committee system is indebted to Mr Kaine for moving the motion that brought about this arrangement. I found it very interesting and more rewarding than if the reports had been referred to an estimates committee at which members of each of the standing committees exercised their expertise in undertaking their investigations.

Even though this is the first occasion on which this arrangement has been followed, matters could be easily identified by the respective committees, in particular by my committee. You will note, Mr Speaker, that a number of recommendations have been made.

I do believe that this arrangement accords with the policy of open government that we, as a government, have undertaken from day one. It is an arrangement that has allowed the public and interested parties to come before my committee, in this case, and express their views.

On that note, I would like to thank my colleagues Mr Corbell and Mr Rugendyke for their assistance in making the introduction of this task as easy as possible. My colleagues and I thank the secretary of the committee, Mr Rod Power, for his assistance.

The committee handled this matter promptly and quickly. Twelve recommendations came out of our deliberations. I know that the relevant Minister, Mr Smyth, will seriously consider all the recommendations and come back to the parliament and the committee with an appropriate response. I do thank the Minister and the many officers who assisted us in our deliberations. Mr Speaker, the task is not as difficult as it may seem if you have professional people assisting you in exercising your duties under the committee system.

Whilst I am talking as chair of the Planning and Urban Services Committee, I am also, as I indicated earlier, a member of a number of other committees. I found this procedure most interesting and refreshing. I also found the committee system to be alive and well. One way that we can serve not only this parliament but also the people of the ACT is by bringing in reports and making comments in respect of the various ministerial portfolios through this process. I commend the committee's report.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MS TUCKER (11.27): I present Report No. 3 of the Standing Committee on Education, Community Services and Recreation, entitled "Inquiry into educational services for students with a disability", together with a copy of extracts of the minutes of proceedings. I move:

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