Page 845 - Week 03 - Thursday, 30 March 2006
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by Ms Gallagher, but she has expressed the view that the funds probably are not there and it will not happen.
It is something that is in the territory’s interest. The opposition will continue to persist on this matter. We would urge the government to find those dollars to have a full-ranging inquiry into the scheme and see whether we can develop some solutions to cut the cost of workers compensation. It would deliver an enormous assistance to the small and large employers of Canberra, particularly the smaller businesses.
One final matter that could be covered also under workers compensation is an issue that has been raised with me and that I intend to take up formally with the minister. That is the self-employed businessperson who has an incorporated entity where they are the beneficial owner of that business and have no other employees. I understand that, in other states, they are not required to have workers compensation; but in Canberra they are, which puts them at an enormous disadvantage to a comparable sole practitioner who may not have chosen to go down the incorporation route. We ought to look at those anomalies and try to modify the demands on people who are running small operations.
In conclusion, I must say that a report such as this does not come to fruition without the hard work, cooperation and professionalism of the many involved. I conclude by thanking my committee colleagues Dr Foskey and Ms Karin MacDonald. I acknowledge the cooperative manner in which ministers and accompanying departmental and agency staff, members of governing boards and associated entities responded in terms of their cooperation during the inquiry process—in the main.
I pay regard to the committee office, particularly Ms Andrea Cullen, who does an outstanding job, as I have said previously. She is one of the most professional people with whom I have ever worked in my entire career. She has done a good job on this again. We have a lot of inquiries going in public accounts, and it is no mean feat to continually produce the quality of reports and drafts that she does and to accommodate the competing demands of the three members of the committee, particularly my two colleagues who serve on other committees as well. Between all that she manages to ensure that we have our hearings, with evidence, and produces quality material that is of an exemplary standard.
I commend the report to the Assembly. I believe my committee colleagues also wish to provide comment.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (11.53): I move:
That the report be noted.
I would like to take my opportunity to speak to the report to echo Mr Mulcahy’s thanks to the people who appeared as witnesses before hearings, and in particular to thank Andrea Cullen, who seems to work very hard servicing our committee and is a very pleasant person to work with.
Of course, any committee report does not entirely reflect everybody’s views. That is the nature of committees made up of representatives of the three parties in the Assembly. But I do think that we worked together quite well in preparing this report. I note that
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