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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 09 Hansard (Thursday, 19 August 2004) . . Page.. 3910 ..

way. It is unfortunate that we have had to have this discussion at all, for a number of reasons. I recognise the sovereignty of the standing orders in this instance, and I will try to limit my discussions to follow the standing orders.

Mrs Dunne just asked us to support this amendment, to look at the evidence before us and to reconsider. The Assembly cannot make such a judgment because they cannot see the evidence that was put to the administration and procedure committee. That is quite clearly what the standing orders stipulate, so we are constrained, as an Assembly, by the information provided in the administration and procedures committee report.

I hope I do not stray from the standing orders but, for my part on that committee, I do not think enough evidence has been provided for me to change my support for the majority report as put down this morning. We cannot put words into people’s mouths. However, as I understand the standing orders, and from my understanding of the processes in this place, this is not necessarily the end of the matter: if a person so aggrieved wishes to approach the Speaker and the Assembly again, then they are free to do so. But I do not turn from my support for the majority report of the standing committee.

MS TUCKER (11.29): As someone who has just been listening to this debate, I want to say that I would find this a very difficult thing to vote on, for the reasons Ms Dundas has given. You have a majority committee report; you have constraints on what other people outside that process can look at; and you have a minority report from Mrs Dunne asking me to support her in overturning a majority report of a committee—and I cannot even look at the evidence, basically. I want to make the point that this is putting people not involved in this process in a very difficult situation. Mrs Dunne has taken a highly unusual step. If you want to pursue calling a vote on this, I would ask someone to adjourn it to a later time this day so I can seek advice from the Clerk.

Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to a later hour.

Public Accounts—Standing committee

Statement by chair

MR SMYTH (Leader of the Opposition) (11.31): Pursuant to standing order 246A relating to inquiries about certain Auditor-General’s reports currently before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the committee has resolved not to provide further comment in relation to the following Auditor-General’s reports:

(1) Auditor-General’s Report No 12 of 2001: The Freedom of Information Act.

(2) Auditor-General’s Report No 2 of 2002: Operations of the Public Access to Government Contracts Act.

(3) Auditor-General’s Report No 5 of 2002: Car Races in Canberra—Costs and Benefits.

(4) Auditor-General’s Report No 2 of 2003: Belconnen Indoor Aquatic Leisure Centre; and

(5) Auditor-General’s Report No. 3 of 2003—Emergency Services.

The reason for this is simply that we are coming to the end of this term of this Assembly. These are reports that the committee has not been able to get to. To clear the sheets for the next Assembly, we have decided not to follow them.

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