Page 3352 - Week 10 - Thursday, 19 October 2006
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Commissioner; and Helen Watchirs, in her role as Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner, demonstrated quite adequately that you can combine a number of roles and perform them well.
In the context of an environment where resources are limited, I think it makes sense to sensibly combine those roles where it is possible to do so. That is what we have sought to do. I have every confidence that we will attract strong candidates who will be able to effectively implement and act in their statutory roles, even though they are dealing perhaps with children and young people as well as another role—or in any other mix of roles. I think that is to the benefit of the territory overall in terms of cost effectiveness, whilst still providing that protection of rights that we are most interested in.
Finally, the removal of the role of president I think is a very sensible move. The president’s role I guess is one of those roles you would have in an ideal world, but it is not essential. Conciliation can occur by the commissioners working together; administration can occur by the commissioners working together; and it can occur also through the bringing in of outside staff to assist with conciliation where that is appropriate.
I think that has been demonstrated to work well in existing arrangements. Certainly with the conciliation issue, I know the Health Complaints Commissioner does that on a very frequent basis. There is no reason why it cannot be done in this context as well with the new commission.
I thank members for their support, where they have given it. I trust that, with the passage of this legislation, we can now look forward to the implementation of the new commission structure and the filling of these statutory roles, which are very important to the protection of rights and opportunities for many people who are otherwise marginalised and disadvantaged in our community.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Adjournment
Motion (by Mr Corbell) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Dragon Abreast Challenge
Rape case
Director of Public Prosecutions
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra—Leader of the Opposition) (5.46): On Sunday, a great event will be held to highlight cancer in women, especially breast cancer, and that is the
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