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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (25 May) . . Page.. 1776 ..
Committee on Education, Community Services and Recreation be amended by adding the following paragraphs:
"(2) that if the Assembly is not sitting when the Committee has completed its inquiry, the Committee may send its Report to the Speaker or, in the absence of the Speaker, to the Deputy Speaker who is authorised to give directions for its printing, circulation and publication; and
(3) the foregoing provisions of this resolution have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders.".
MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education) (11.25): The motion is a sensible one. On this report, I do note that the committee has had it since 21 October last year and has sent it out for consultation. I note that it has asked for comments to be back by Friday, 28 April. There is some urgency here because any real delays in reporting may result in an inability to take steps for implementation in 2001. The department starts recruiting in August-September and if there were too much of a delay it might have to go over to 2002, so I would certainly urge the committee to use its best endeavours to finalise its report on the draft plan as soon as possible. I can see Ms Tucker nodding in agreement and I thank her for that. It is a sensible motion which we support.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
MR CORBELL (11.26): I move:
That:
(1) a select committee on privileges be appointed to examine, as a matter of privilege, the matter of the possible improper influence of a witness, Mr Gower in respect of evidence to be given to the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Services;
(2) the committee be composed of:
(a) a Member to be nominated by the Government;
(b) a Member to be nominated by the Opposition; and
(c) a Member to be nominated by either the Independent Members, the ACT Greens, or the United Canberra Party;
(d) to be notified to the Speaker in writing by 4.00 p.m. on 25 May 2000.
(3) the committee report by the first sitting day in August 2000; and
(4) the foregoing provisions have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders.
This is a motion which I do not move lightly today. It is a motion I move because my colleagues and I are gravely concerned that the Minister for Urban Services and his officers appear to have behaved in a way which may have resulted in a breach of parliamentary privilege. I stress the word "may", Mr Speaker, because it is a matter which can only be properly considered by a select committee on privileges. That is why we propose such a committee's establishment.
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