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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 1 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 94 ..
MR QUINLAN (continuing):
This amendment will ensure that there is no deterioration of the current prudent financial management practices, which result in the Treasurer's Advance not being issued until as late as is possible in the financial year when it is certain that the expenditure is necessary. The amendment will also continue to promote the sound financial management practice of agencies advising Treasury early of possible cost pressures.
Also, it must be remembered that funding of the Treasurer's Advance is limited to only 1 per cent of appropriations. This upper limit provides that this Assembly's role in the parliamentary budget and financial accountability process is in no way weakened by these amendments but that, at the same time, government is provided with some flexibility to meet unforeseen cost pressures.
I trust that members will support the bill, which is aimed at clarifying provisions within the act, promoting efficient and financial management practices and, I might add, eliminating the possibility of this government breaching the ACT, as did the past government inadvertently. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Humphries) adjourned to the next sitting.
ACTION Authority Amendment Bill 2001
Mr Corbell
, by leave, presented the bill and its explanatory memorandum.Title read by Clerk.
MR CORBELL (Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, Minister for Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations) (4.28): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
The ACTION Authority Act 2001 was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 9 August this year and notified in the Gazette on 10 September this year. The commencement date for the act is 1 January 2002.
Some urgent technical amendments are required to improve and clarify the operation of the act, particularly in relation to the transfer of staff to the ACTION Authority. Ideally, these amendments should be made prior to the 1 January 2002 commencement date.
Sections 21 and 22 of the act provide for the employment of staff and the preservation of entitlements of staff formerly in the public service. These sections have been found to be inadequate for transferring staff from the territory to the new ACTION Authority.
Section 36 of the act provides for the transfer of assets, rights and liabilities. The minister may make a declaration that assets, rights or liabilities of the territory vest in the authority. Such a declaration is a disallowable instrument, which will take effect after the disallowance period.
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