Page 1970 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 25 June 2008
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Leave granted.
MS MacDONALD: Scrutiny report 56 contains the committee’s comments on 53 pieces of subordinate legislation, two government responses and one regulatory impact statement. The report was circulated to members when the Assembly was not sitting. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Legal Affairs—Standing Committee
Statement by deputy chair
MS MacDONALD (Brindabella): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs.
The committee held public hearings into annual reports within its portfolio responsibilities on 1 and 2 November 2007. The committee heard from Minister Corbell, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Attorney-General, and the following agencies: the Department of Justice and Community Safety, the Public Advocate, the Legal Aid Commissioner, the ACT Electoral Commission, the ACT Ombudsman, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Public Trustee, the Emergency Services Agency and ACT Policing.
While a wide range of issues was canvassed with all agencies, the committee focused the majority of its attention on the progress, cost and operations of the Alexander Maconochie Centre and the state of the emergency services in the ACT. The committee is currently conducting a separate inquiry into fire and emergency services in the ACT and will report to the Assembly in August this year on that matter.
So far as the Alexander Maconochie Centre is concerned, the committee decided to undertake some inspections of the prison facilities in the ACT, including a visit to the AMC. In February this year, the committee visited the Belconnen Remand Centre, Symonston Periodic Detention Facility and the AMC. The committee expresses its thanks to the Attorney-General for facilitating this visit and also to the staff of ACT Corrective Services and JACS, who were most helpful and informative during the visits.
The legal affairs committee is not making any further comment at this stage on any matters raised in annual reports and at the public hearing. The committee will continue to scrutinise the progress and operation of the AMC. The committee plans to undertake a further visit of the AMC prior to its completion and will report further to the Assembly after that visit.
The annual reports public hearings continue to be a significant accountability tool for the committee and a valuable record.
Public Accounts—standing committee
Statement by chair
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts relating to reportable contracts under section 39 of the Government Procurement Act 2001.
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