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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (17 February) . . Page.. 280 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

Mr Speaker, following the release of the coroner's report in November 1999, appropriate government agencies began the process of reviewing those recommendations identified in the report. The Government has taken the recommendations of the coroner's report very seriously and has made a concerted effort to address those concerns. As part of the process, I informed the Assembly that an independent person, Mr Tom Sherman, had been appointed to assess the Government's response to recommendations of the coroner's report into the Royal Canberra Hospital implosion.

Mr Gilmour, chief executive of my department, considered a number of choices in relation to the appointment of an independent person to undertake this assessment. After careful consideration, Mr Sherman was chosen on the basis of his particular expertise in public administration and the law, his reputation and his ability to provide a totally independent assessment. For these reasons, Mr Sherman's appointment was one of a single select, which he alludes to on page 11 of his report. Mr Sherman's terms of reference were to assess the ACT Government's response to the coroner's report; to ensure that, where appropriate, the report's recommendations and other matters raised by the coroner relevant to the ACT Public Service were addressed in current practices and procedures; and to report on the findings.

Mr Speaker, today I am tabling Mr Sherman's report on his findings. I am very pleased to see this report and, in particular, to have an independent assessment about the progress that has occurred. Indeed, Mr Sherman states that substantial implementation has already taken place within agencies since the coroner's report was handed down in November 1999. I will refer a little later in greater detail to areas where substantial work has taken place.

As the Assembly is aware, the coroner raised a series of matters in relation to current practices and procedures within the ACT Public Service. As indicated in the terms of reference, Mr Sherman's focus was to assess current practices and procedures, particularly in relation to project management within the ACT Government. In carrying out the terms of reference, Mr Sherman has identified 30 recommendations from the coroner's report. He has examined each of them in detail and made a finding in relation to each one.

Mr Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Assembly that as a result of this independent assessment the overall findings are positive. Of the recommendations outlined in Mr Sherman's report, seven recommendations have been substantially implemented, 14 recommendations are well on the way towards implementation, and five recommendations require more work to reach implementation. The remaining four recommendations either fall outside the responsibility of the Government or are too general to assess their implementation.

Mr Speaker, I would like to give the Assembly just a few examples of where compliance either has occurred or is well on the way to completion. A comprehensive review of WorkCover has taken place. A purchasing guideline on occupational health and safety has been developed. Internal procedures have been developed to check and strengthened the processes of tender evaluation. A regulators forum has been established

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