Page 2375 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 16 June 2009
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There has been a lot said about the nature of questions on notice with imputations that they were frivolous and unnecessary. The Chief Minister’s media release about questions on notice was inappropriate. I note that even today he is still questioning the appropriateness of many questions. I would like to remind the Chief Minister that many questions on notice originate from community organisation concerns and the MLAs act as facilitators for those organisations.
Many questions that were pursued in the estimates hearing and through placing them on notice related to concerns and issues raised by community organisations and were also concerns and issues shared by members. Often these questions are raised out of not being able to access information or due to a lack of detail in the budget papers. Therefore, may community organisations see this as their main opportunity in forum to access information or see where funding is being directed. There are also detailed submissions received by the estimates committee from community organisations and community organisations appeared to give evidence before the estimates committee.
There were also many budget submissions made by community organisations. I do not think anyone would suggest that the issues and concerns raised by community organisations are unnecessary or without foundation. It is a shame for those organisations who work incredibly hard on limited budgets not to get answers to questions which are important to them and the people they help.
On the overall issue of questions on notice, with more information in the budget papers and in some instances a more helpful and prepared approach by ministers, some of our concerns could have been addressed. Questions are and have always been a key part of the estimates process.
I would just like to note also that according to the estimates committee secretariat there were 530 questions put on notice by four Greens and four Liberal members. I am very impressed that Mr Stanhope has had time to spend counting how many questions within questions there were and super-impressed that he has managed to find 2,550. The Chief Minister has been complaining that the committee asked 911 questions of his portfolios, but to be fair the Chief Minister’s Department is of interest to all members of this Assembly and also many residents of Canberra. I also note that Mr Stanhope does have six other portfolios as well.
There are important recommendations in the estimates committee report which go to how the government, the Assembly and the community will progress in the coming financial year, including with services and programs. I would hope that the ACT government considers and addresses these recommendations. Any issues or recommendations that relate to expenditure relate to the budget. The Greens do have some concerns with the amount of detail in the budget. We also understand the approach taken by the ACT government in taking a year to consult with government departments and the community, which is a considered approach. We would expect to see clear details at the end of this process.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (5.28): Madam Deputy Speaker, it is interesting to hear Ms Burch’s words, because for me the highlight of the whole process was this. The
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