Page 46 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 December 2008
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Emergency Services) (11.36): As I previously indicated, the government will not be supporting that amendment in relation to the establishment of a stand-alone committee on public works. We believe the committee system is going to be working at a very high level of efficiency already and it would be difficult to insert an additional standing committee at this time. I note, however, the view that public works could be included in the terms of reference for the Standing Committee on Planning, Territory and Municipal Services and that public works would be included in that function. The government will support that proposal.
I should also highlight for the clarification of members that there is a typographical error in the motion that I have circulated. The reference to scrutiny of sport and recreation matters appears twice, once for the Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs and again in the terms of reference for the Standing Committee on Planning, Territory and Municipal Services. It should only appear in relation to the Standing Committee on Planning, Territory and Municipal Services, not in relation to the Standing Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs. I trust that can be dealt with as a typographical error.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (11.37): The Greens will not be supporting the proposal from the opposition to establish the standing committee on public works. We are instead prepared to support Mrs Dunne’s later proposed amendment to the terms of reference to the Standing Committee on Planning, Territory and Municipal Services to give it a specific reference to oversight of the capital works program.
Members are aware that, in our parliamentary agreement with the Labor Party, Labor lent its support to the establishment of a standing committee on climate change, environment and water in the context of the need for us to reshape the way we live on the planet, and in Canberra particularly—to take steps sooner rather than later. So we are confident that there is a need for this Assembly to support a climate change committee to provide some of the drive and scrutiny needed to back up the challenge to government to move towards these changes. It is our view that this will address the environmental impacts.
In the past, capital works had been overseen through the relevant portfolios. I note in this motion that the planning, territory and municipal services portfolio already encompasses public works but I accept that the opposition has taken a more comprehensive approach. Given that we are in a new era, it would seem, of capital work intensive urgent government investment, a more comprehensive approach is appreciated.
The Greens support Mrs Dunne’s amendments Nos 2, 3 and 4. The first two seem to ensure the content covered by the committees is comprehensive with community health and family services. The third one I have already spoken to when I discussed our position on the proposed stand-alone public works committee. I would also like to note that we would have preferred to see amendment No 5 include the qualification that the chair of the public accounts committee should be held by a non-government member. We are happy to support amendment No 6.
Question put:
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