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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (15 February) . . Page.. 4 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

That underscores the point I have made about the philosophy that should and must pervade annual reporting to the people of the ACT and the Assembly. There has to be a philosophy that says, "We want to inform you. We want to tell you not that these legal fees, even though they are high, are just legal fees for one or other Minister or some event but that they imply a commitment far beyond that amount". That is the real information.

When the committee asks reasonable questions about a $1m problem in an organisation, we expect officers and Ministers to be forthcoming in providing the answers. (Extension of time granted) It is very important that if the Government wants to set up a process whereby we send annual reports to standing committees, a divide and conquer process, they at least involve themselves in ensuring that the committees that receive those annual reports are given full and complete information with reasonable goodwill.

I cannot stress too strongly the disappointment we feel at having asked about a couple of consultancies and officers and a Minister who should have known about it not providing the committee with full and complete information. That is symptomatic of the process the Government has set up by spreading annual reports amongst committees. There seems to be underneath that a desire not to have full and complete information come before this Assembly. I think the Assembly should reflect upon that and possibly seek in the future to reverse the situation and go back to an estimates committee, a select committee, that reviews annual reports in toto.

Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth ) adjourned.

MR OSBORNE (10.51): Pursuant to order, I present Report No. 8 of the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, entitled "The 1998/99 Annual and Financial Reports of the Department of Justice and Community Safety and Related Agencies", together with extracts of the minutes of proceedings. I move:

As members are aware, this is the first time Assembly standing committees have individually examined their relevant annual reports. In the case of the Justice Committee, I think the process has gone very well and been a success. Committee members agreed that the new format has provided for a more in-depth examination and understanding of the justice portfolio than perhaps may have been possible in previous years. We also agreed that this should improve the committee's ability in future inquiries to scrutinise government decisions.

The committee held a series of public hearings with agencies and examined all 10 annual and financial reports covering the justice and community safety portfolio. We made 17 recommendations. While some of those recommendations relate to improving the reports format and general presentation of information to the public, there are several I would like to bring to the attention of members at this time.

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