Page 1732 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 April 2009
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If we could mandate that it was only one speaker, we would be very happy to contain budget discussion to that. In relation to the general gist of Mr Smyth’s motion and some commitments that Ms Hunter and I have been talking about today, we are happy to commit to that.
Members will have information. Members will have access to Treasury for a technical presentation on the budget. We will organise that during the lunch break, organise that it suits members’ needs, that nobody feels rushed about coming in here to question time. Of course, we look forward to a lengthy discussion through the estimates and the broader budget process.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (6.19): As we all know, the introduction of the budget and the processes of its delivery are a matter for the government of the day under the clear separation of powers between the Assembly and the executive.
Mr Smyth’s motion is seeking that the Assembly require the executive to deliver specific documents before they are tabled and direct public service officials to specific places at specific times. We do not believe that the Assembly can enforce these requirements upon the government. However, we would be calling upon the government to support an open and collaborative approach towards delivering a thorough and tripartite scrutiny of this budget.
The Treasurer and I, as you have just heard, have been in discussions today. She has assured us that this is the approach she intends to take and has given a commitment to the Assembly that members will be provided with budget kits and a briefing from Treasury officials on budget day during the lunch break and before question time. Also, of course, there is the other offer, that staff or MLAs can attend the other stakeholders briefing that takes place.
The Treasurer has also assured members that they will be consulted on the exact timing of the delivery of the budget kits and the briefing. Of course, just with the interaction that has happened across the chamber in the last few minutes where Mr Smyth has indicated an interest in being part of the lockup process, I am sure that I would be very interested in having discussions with the Treasurer about whether that is a possibility, considering that it is a practice up at Parliament House in the federal parliament. We would be very happy to have those discussions, as I am sure we would be happy to have those discussions with Mr Smyth.
Mr Speaker, the Greens would rather honour the word of the Treasurer and the collaborative approach she has offered here today than attempt to enforce a process by supporting Mr Smyth’s motion.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (6.21): It is disappointing that this motion appears as though it is going to go down. It is worth talking a little bit about how this has been handled in the last few years. Mr Smyth can speak to some of the history of it. My perspective is since the 2005 budget. Someone can correct me if I am wrong on this but I have a strong recollection, my first budget 2005, of there
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