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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 11 Hansard (26 September) . . Page.. 3366 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

This is an issue that goes to the separation of power between the legislature and the executive. An essential element of that separation is the ability of the Assembly to directly scrutinise the budget process.

I believe that the Financial Amendment Bill 2002 will be accepted by the Assembly. I will be monitoring the government closely in an attempt to keep them accountable, as they should be, under the laws of this territory. While I have raised significant concerns with regard to this bill, there are other things within it that clarify the respective roles of government departments, chief executives and the Treasurer in terms of financial management. I am happy to endorse those, but just repeat that we will be watching the government closely in terms of the fiscal responsibility they have to the territory and this Assembly.

MR WOOD (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services) (6.08): Mr Speaker, on behalf of Mr Quinlan, I thank members for their considered and constructive comments. As they commented, a review is ongoing of how these structures work and the amendments today are a part of that. We can expect further amendments to be presented later in the year.

These amendments are designed to ensure that the obligations imposed by the FMA are quite clear and unambiguous. I can advise Mr Smyth and Ms Dundas that, as part of this continuing review, their comments will be taken carefully into account and will receive every consideration. This bill is a useful bill to pass and I thank members again for their support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Civil Law (Wrongs) Bill 2002

Detail stage

Debate resumed.

Clause 155 agreed to.

Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole and agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Plant Diseases Bill 2002

Ordered that order of the day No 4, executive business, relating to the Plant Diseases Bill 2002, be postponed until the next day of sitting.

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