Page 1766 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 21 August 2007
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Let us have a look at the budget processes. Here today, we have heard of obstacles placed to inhibit scrutiny of budget papers—hard to read budget papers. There is a format that hides individual substantial project costs and some of the more substantial recurring expenditure funds and costings that make it that much more difficult for members of the community to examine what these budget papers really look like.
What about the estimates process? This morning we had discussion here about a particular minister—the elephant in the room; we will not name him. In fact, I will name him: Minister Hargreaves. Through his obstructionist behaviour, he clearly impeded the parliamentary process—the estimates process—this year by failing to be open and accountable.
Let us select an example of Mr Hargreaves’s avoidance of being open and accountable. Quite seriously, one of the ways he avoids being open and accountable is to intimidate; through bullying processes with members of the public, he avoids scrutiny. Let us ask why Mr Hargreaves might wish to say to MLAs who ask him questions to scrutinise his department’s performance that he will not answer those questions until the MLA provides details of the constituent’s name. “I’m not going to answer the MLA; I want the details of the constituent before I respond.” Is this open and accountable? I think not. This is intimidation; this is avoiding being open and accountable.
Let us look at some of the activities that this government has counselled. There has been the abolition of certain committees, such as the traffic liaison committee and MACMA. Let us have a look at the bushfire council. That has not been abolished, but it may as well have been, because its traditional powers have been emasculated. That is the way in which this government has developed in these last five years. Any one of these committees which might be a little bit pesky or might be providing forthright and firm advice is sidelined, emasculated or entirely stacked with good old comrade mates to ensure that the minister gets the advice that the minister wants.
Today, Mrs Dunne has talked at length about school closures. I want to refer briefly to the closure of Griffith library—another example of Mr Hargreaves being open and accountable! I recall Mr Hargreaves saying in a public rally outside Griffith library, “I didn’t ask the community what they wanted to do; I didn’t really consult with the community about this question of closing Griffith library, because I knew what they were going to say. I knew what they were going to say, so I didn’t bother to ask them. I’m just standing up here today and I’m telling them I’m going to close the damn library.” That is the way that piece of open and accountable consultation from this minister went.
I go to Tharwa bridge. Today, we have talked about the time it took to examine what state the old bridge was in and the failure to communicate with the Tharwa community to expedite this issue. We have talked about the Point Hut road detour issue and the “Slow down” signage—the “Dangerous corner: slow down” signage—which was missing for up to 12 months but, interestingly enough, was replaced immediately after a very serious road accident. That is not open and accountable government; that is just backside covering—indeed, an act of covering up slackness, the antithesis of being open and accountable. That one issue is a stunning illustration
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