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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 69 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

The issues around these policy concerns and trying to access information were, of course, made harder by the issues that we touch on in this planning and environment report-the changes in administrative arrangements, the number of ministers. The lack of follow-through across a whole range of reports makes it harder to find information that the Assembly needs to keep the government accountable.

I hope that this report will spark debate in this place about how we can make these processes better, and that the information we need can be more easily accessed so that we do know that the government is doing the job that it has been elected to do, and that is to provide good governance to the people of the ACT.

MRS CROSS (11.27): I am not going to repeat what has been expressed by my committee colleagues because I agree with them and I would like to support those views. I think coming from a business background my main concern as a member of this committee during the inquiries that were held was that things like key performance indicators, measures that are in place in the business environment and the corporate sector locally and particularly in Australia, do not seem to be evident in the public service.

As was mentioned by my colleague Mr Hargreaves, I think it is very important when we are conducting inquiries like this that departments look at perhaps introducing, if not enhancing, efficiency indicators. We are here for a term of three years and during that time inquires are referred to committees, recommendations are made by committees and governments take them up, do not take them up or allow them to drop by the wayside, and the process starts again. To avoid repetition and wasting time it is important that we perhaps consider seriously introducing key performance indicators in every government department so that we can assess output, efficiency and the quality of productivity.

I want to express my thanks to the committee secretary, Ms Linda Atkinson, who brings with her to this place very extensive federal parliamentary experience. We are very fortunate to have her here. I am very grateful for her help to me as a new member of this committee. I am also very grateful to Ms Moutia for her support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Education-Standing Committee

Report No 2

MS MacDONALD (11.30): Pursuant to order, I present Report No 2 of the Standing Committee on Education entitled Inquiry into 2001-2002 Annual and Financial Reports, together with extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings. I seek leave to move a motion authorising the report for publication.

MS MacDONALD: I move:

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