Page 1182 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 May 2006
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(5) the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders.
The motion is self-explanatory. Each year before the budget we establish the estimates committee. The standard composition is two members from the government, two from the opposition and one from the crossbench. If the motion is successful, nominations will be submitted to you by 4 pm today. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for Planning) (11.01): The government is happy to support this motion, with an amendment. I move:
Subparagraph 2 (a), omit “two Members”, substitute “three Members”.
It is a simple amendment. It deals with the overall composition of the committee in that it should be composed of three members to be nominated by the government, two members to be nominated by the opposition and one member to be nominated by the crossbench.
The timeframes put forward by Mr Smyth in his motion are acceptable to the government. We obviously have a later budget this year than in previous years and the reporting time frame appears to be a sensible one, as do the other terms of reference. But, given the size of the budget and the magnitude of issues that I think all members appreciate the budget will be dealing with this year, the government feels it is appropriate that there be an appropriate level of proportionality in the representation of parties on the committee.
That is consistent with the standing orders in this place. The standing orders in this place generally indicate that the principle for representation on Assembly committees is to be a proportional one. Obviously the Labor Party, as the majority party in this place, does have the largest number of members. Therefore, in accordance with the principles of proportionality, we assert that the committee should be composed of three members from the Labor Party, or government, two from the Liberal Party, the opposition, in accordance with their status as the second largest party in this place, and one from the Greens, in accordance with their status as the third party in this place.
That is the government’s position. The government will support the motion with that amendment.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (11.03): It is disappointing that the government has moved to amend Mr Smyth’s motion. Mr Corbell’s argument is interesting. It is that, because the government has the numbers in the house, so it should have the numbers in the committee. I think, though, that that goes against the basic function of an estimates committee, which is to hold the government’s budget up to scrutiny. The proposal to increase the number of government members is probably also a pre-emption of who will chair the committee.
Mr Seselja: It is a hung committee.
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