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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 3 Hansard (7 March) . . Page.. 695 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

However, there are some salient points. One of the issues before us at the moment, in a funny kind of way, is the security of our operations as elected representatives. These guidelines make sure that our rights as elected members are protected and at the same time allow good access for the community to have a look at what we are doing.

Mr Dundas has pointed out that we needed to include the public service officers who are connected to the system if we are going to change the rules. Of course, a set of rules needs to be applied to them themselves. I do not know how successful you are going to be if, for example, you say that the department has to notify the clerk of the number of officers that connections will be for. The clerk, however, has no control over the number of officers who will actually be present during the transmission. Nonetheless, that will work itself out in time.

I urge the Assembly to support this innovative move. Mr Cornwell said it has had a long genesis. It had its genesis when Pontius was a trainee pilot, and it is about time we actually grasped the nettle and did it. We have done it now, and I urge that people support Ms Dundas in this move.

MR CORNWELL (11.10): As I foreshadowed, the opposition has no objection to the guidelines that have been laid down in the motion put forward by Ms Dundas. We have to begin somewhere, and they look quite satisfactory to me. If any problems arise we can always review a particular section. As somebody who has been involved in this matter at least for some time, I am very pleased that we have finally got a permanent arrangement for the broadcasting of the Assembly's activities. I commend the guidelines to the house.

MS DUNDAS (11.11), in reply: In closing the debate, I would like to thank members for their participation in this and in the many debates regarding the broadcasting of public proceedings in the Assembly. I thank the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure, and I thank members for their support of this motion. I hope these guidelines facilitate greater scrutiny of this chamber and also bring about greater communication of this chamber with the community.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Public Accounts-Standing Committee

Statement by chair

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, pursuant to standing order 246A, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts has resolved that I make the following statement regarding Auditor-General's Report No 10 of 2001:

Mr Speaker, the Public Accounts Committee has reviewed the Auditor-General's Report No 10 of 2001, Corrective Services: review of certain allegations. As the allegations raised have been investigated by the Australian Federal Police and the Auditor-General's Office, the committee does not believe that any additional investigation by it would be constructive.

Sitting suspended from 11.13 am to 2. 30 pm.

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