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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (21 February) . . Page.. 464 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

Members will see the consistency of these terms of reference with the terms of reference of the standing committee in its ongoing role in the Assembly.

Mr Speaker, I have high hopes that this will be a great consultation process. I am speaking on behalf of my colleagues on the committee when I say we are committed to honest consultation and that we hope to be able to bring back to the Assembly in a concerted fashion what information is brought to us by the community.

We asked the Treasurer to come and talk to the committee, and I was quite pleased with the helpful way in which he advised us of the process he saw was going to take place-how we would fit into the jigsaw of it all. I thought that it was a good opportunity for the committee to work in concert with the executive without actually being an arm of the executive. That augers well for the future.

I am hoping that the commitment that we have to honest, open, transparent and meaningful consultation with people in the community who have an interest in our budgetary process will be mirrored by the government when it considers the recommendations that we bring forward. I am sure it will, given the demeanour of the Treasurer when he came to our committee. I look forward to advising the Assembly on community views and budget issues.

Education-Standing Committee

Statement by chair

MS MacDONALD: I seek leave to make a statement regarding a new inquiry.

Leave granted.

MS MacDONALD: At its meeting on 12 February 2002 the Standing Committee on Education resolved to conduct an inquiry into the 2002-2003 ACT budget. The terms of reference are as follows:

Inquire into and report on priority areas for the service delivery in the 2002-2003 ACT Budget relating to:

. Early childhood education and care;

. Primary, secondary, post secondary and tertiary education;

. Non-government education;

. Arts and culture; and

. Sport and recreation.

With particular reference (but not limited to)

. The adequacy of resources provided to meet current needs;

. Gaps in services; and

. Any duplication of services and area identified for re-prioritisation.

Mr Speaker, I look forward to being able to report back to the Assembly on behalf of the committee the findings on community views and the impact of the budget on these areas.

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