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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (7 May) . . Page.. 1267 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I think that indicates the most important quality one would expect of a position of that kind, and that is a genuine enthusiasm for the work. No doubt there are some people who at least in part see their appointment to positions on boards and committees in the ACT as a way of adding another notch to the belt, as a matter of prestige or status. But there is no doubt that the status, whatever it might be, that attaches to the chairmanship of the ACT Cultural Council is more than offset by the enormous amount of hard work which goes into managing the process of deciding on which grants should go to which of the many sometimes fractious arts organisations and artists who bid for funding from that body. It requires enormous presence of mind to be able to handle that process, and I have to say that Richard Refshauge never faltered in his determination to be both fair and judicious about the way in which that role was exercised.

Mr Wood made reference to Richard Refshauge's early interest in the theatre. I recall having a discussion with his brother, Andrew Refshauge, the Deputy Premier of New South Wales, about Richard's early interest in theatre, and Andrew, with a roll of his eyes, made reference to the fact that he was often asked as a child to take part in Richard's home amateur theatre productions or school amateur theatre productions. He obviously was not quite so keen on that process as his brother was, but nonetheless he took part because, as we all know, Richard Refshauge is quite a persuasive person.

Mr Speaker, I just want to say that I do not know the new chair of the Cultural Council, but I understand that Mr Templeman is a very worthy successor to Richard Refshauge. I think it is worth saying that Mr Smyth, who is a former arts minister, and I had great pleasure in working with Mr Refshauge. We hope that the government finds a new role for Richard Refshauge which properly exploits his enormous enthusiasm and talent in the field of public service.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

MR CORNWELL (5.41): Mr Speaker, as members would be aware, the ACT has a member on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's executive committee. The opportunity for CPA branches to fill such a position does not come up often. Ms Tucker, who is our representative on the CPA executive committee, recently attended a meeting of the executive in Kiribati from 29 April to 6 May. As we now have a member on the executive who attends executive meetings, I am interested to know if it is possible for this branch to receive reports on the state of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. I am sure this it would be of interest to CPA members of the ACT branch.

I note also that there are three committees of the CPA executive and that a member of the Australian delegation of three is on each committee. Would it also be possible for our representative, Ms Tucker, to give this branch a report on what is going on in the executive committee of which she is a member?

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

MS TUCKER (5.43): I have come into the chamber because, if I heard correctly, Mr Cornwell said that he would like to see some kind of report from the CPA executive.

Mr Cornwell: Yes.

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