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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 3110 ..

Mr Speaker, we have had a significant in-principle debate on this bill. We have all stated our positions. Mr Quinlan wishes to expand on his perceptions of the matters that have been raised and debated. My amendment simply reflects the decision which the Labor Party has taken in relation to electoral disclosure. Proposed new clauses 3A to 3G are simply a reflection of our decision to ensure that all members of the Assembly are required to report consistently; that there be no disparity in reporting arrangements; and that the arrangements between each of us, whether or not we be a member of a party or whether or not we be an Independent, be the same. That, in effect, is the Attorney's purpose in introducing the bill. The Attorney had that same motivation.

It is just that the Labor Party's view on how we might achieve parity is not the same as what the Attorney proposes. We would propose that each of us, in effect, disclose a whole range of payments that we may receive as a result of other employment, other investments or serendipitous activity of one sort or another. Proposed clauses 3A to 3G go some way to achieving what the Labor Party believes should be the range of income and income sources that really should be reported on.

MS TUCKER (12.18 am): This amendment simply applies the existing reporting arrangements of Independent MLAs to all MLAs. I agree that there should be common reporting arrangements across all MLAs but I do not think the ALP have done the work in examining the suitability of the existing reporting arrangements and how this interacts with the existing register of pecuniary interests. These reporting requirements are different but overlap.

The Electoral Act focuses on income received by MLAs and establishes thresholds for declaration, whereas the register of pecuniary interests focuses on the assets and sources of income of MLAs and also includes the interests of family members. I would prefer there to be one reporting system that combines the reporting requirements in the Electoral Act and the financial elements of the register of pecuniary interests kept by the Clerk, so that all financial information about MLAs is in one place and there is no duplication of effort or the potential for the two registers to get out of synchronisation.

I am inclined, therefore, to not support the ALP amendment today because I think the amendment needs further examination and development. I am keen, however, to continue this debate over what information should be disclosed by MLAs and what is the best way of keeping this information. I am happy for the ALP to pursue further

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