MR SMYTH (continuing):

Thus the necessary safeguards clearly are in place. To accept the recommendation would be to put in place a considerable disincentive to membership of any such Boards-an outcome which would deprive the ACT community of a great deal of valuable assistance.

Mr Speaker, I commend the Government Response to the Assembly but in doing so I remind Members that they really must exercise their responsibility for demanding a higher standard of reports from Standing and Select Committees.

Finance and Public Administration-Standing Committee (incorporating the Public Accounts Committee)-Finance Committee Report No 10-2001-02 draft budget initiatives and capital works program for the Chief Minister's Department, Department of Treasury and related agencies (presented 29 March 2001)-Government response, dated June 2001.

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, I present the Government Response to Report No.10 of the Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration on the 2001-02 Draft Budget Initiatives and Capital Works Program for the Chief Minister's Department, the Department of Treasury, and related agencies.

The Committee made eight recommendations with one recommendation comprising three parts.

The recommendations encompass a number of issues including the Draft Budget process, responding to needs of Indigenous Australians and those facing poverty, and the use of the anticipated budget surplus and additional funding from the Commonwealth Grants Commission.

The Government has supported the majority of the recommendations made in the Committee's Report.

Of the ten recommendations, six are agreed or agreed in part, two are not agreed, and two are noted.