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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 4 Hansard (29 March) . . Page.. 1199 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

Our approach was consistent with last year's approach. We have expressed our reservations about the competence of any committee really to come to grips with the priorities and the way matters are prioritised. Our approach this year was valid. It is probably helpful. I think it is a positive approach back to Mr Moore, the minister. We have asked the government to take the submissions from ACROD and everybody else, 17 of them, and put them into the context of what it has been examining and set its priorities. That is what we have said and I think that it is a positive and reasonable approach, because at this stage the government has or should have that expertise.

We received very good submissions from bodies. Shelter gave us a very comprehensive submission, an excellent submission, as did ACTCOSS and ACROD, a very important body. The Youth Coalition gave a most comprehensive submission and its recommendations are worthy of consideration, but we did not think that we could examine those out of context of everything else. The Disability Advisory Council provided a very pertinent submission. We have asked the government to take those submissions on board and see that the money is spent as best as it possibly can be. If this process is to continue next year, Mr Humphries should not just hark back at us and complain and moan about what we say, and I should not prejudge him; he should improve the circumstances of committees so that we are truly in a position to take on what he seems to think we should be doing. I await with interest his positive approach to the way this committee has handled things this year.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Justice and Community Safety-Standing Committee

Report No 13

MR OSBORNE (4.50): The secret for keeping Mr Berry quiet is to make him Temporary Deputy Speaker.

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: You will have to speak up, Mr Osborne, if you want to impress me. I want to hear what you are saying.

MR OSBORNE: I was talking to Mr Kaine actually, not to you, so I do apologise. Pursuant to order, I present the following report:

Justice and Community Safety-Standing Committee-Report No 13-The 2001-02 Draft Budget Initiatives and Draft Capital Works for the Department of Justice and Community Safety and Related Agencies, together with extracts of the minutes of proceedings.

I move:

That the report be noted.

Overall, the committee was fairly positive, I think, about the draft budget. There were comments from individual committee members and from community groups about the draft budget process and the short time frame available for community consultation. I think I will leave it up to other members if they wish to make comments about their own views.

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