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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Thursday, 1 April 2004) . . Page.. 1552 ..

regulations to support the new clause 66A. This bill establishes the board, to exercise its functions independently, impartially and in the public interest. However, it is appropriate for the board to provide an annual report to the minister outlining activity in relation to complaints and disciplinary action and any other matter of relevance to their functions. The minister’s power under clause 67 to direct the board to report on certain matters could achieve the same outcome as these amendments; however, from an administrative and accountability perspective a mandatory annual reporting requirement is a more appropriate arrangement.

MS DUNDAS (5.42): This amendment ensures that the architects board remains accountable to the minister and to the community. This is a non-controversial amendment and simply ensures that the work of the architects board is publicly available and open to scrutiny under the annual reports act. Ms Tucker’s second amendment requires that the board report on a number of specific statistics, as well as on their general activities throughout the financial year. I am happy to support these amendments to provide a little bit more of an accountability mechanism in this act.

MRS DUNNE (5.42): The Liberal opposition will be supporting Ms Tucker’s amendment. It is a good idea and, dare I say, it harmonises with the approach taken by this place in the construction industries legislation that was passed recently. To echo what Ms Dundas said, it just creates more transparency and means that the activities of the board are more publicly available. I support the idea.

Proposed new clause 66A agreed to.

Clauses 67 to 71, by leave, taken together and agreed to.

Clause 72.

MS TUCKER (5.43): I move amendment No 2 circulated in my name [see schedule 3 at page 1614].

This amendment amends the disclosure of interest provisions to ensure that they are reported to the minister and, through him or her, the relevant Assembly committee. It mimics provisions of disclosure in other acts.

MR CORBELL (Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (5.44): This amendment expands on the disclosure of interest provisions in clause 72. The current provision requires a board member to disclose a direct or indirect personal or financial interest in a matter under consideration by the board. The disclosure must be recorded in the board’s minutes and the board member must not take part in any consideration or decision on the matter.

This amendment has the requirement for the chairperson to provide a statement to the minister on any disclosures within seven days after the end of each financial year. The minister must then give a copy of the statement to the relevant standing committee of the Assembly. The amendment will assist in ensuring the transparency and accountability of the board’s operation. The government is happy to support the amendment.

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