Page 2632 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 23 June 2009
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However, it is noted resources provided to Ministers reflect the substantial additional workload.
That is interesting, Mr Speaker. Our shadow ministers have a similar workload; those of the crossbench have a similar workload.
Ms Gallagher: Come on, Brendan.
MR SMYTH: We all cover and are responsible for scrutinising the same issues. We hear the mirth. I notice that the Treasurer was on the radio this morning disparaging particularly the size of email boxes. Information is important. To quote the motto of the Royal Military College: information is power. It is interesting that the government refuses to acknowledge that those not in the executive may need some additional resources to do their job properly. The government’s answer to many of these questions is to say, “Let’s have more members.” But if all members were better resourced or equally resourced, there would be the opportunity to allow opposition members, non-government members or non-executive members to do their jobs properly.
It is interesting that the government take that stance. It was interesting that in opposition they often said that they needed more resources. I guess that is the nature of going to the government benches.
Mr Speaker, there was some discussion when you appeared before the estimates committee. We thank you for your appearance. One of the issues was the reporting, in that the activities of the Secretariat would be implementing the Greens-Labor accord. I raised some questions, and others certainly raised questions, about whether or not that is actually a priority of the Secretariat. I note what you said on the day and the discussion that we had on that matter, but it is a concern to me that that made it into the actual budget documents.
To have the ACT Greens-Labor Party agreement as something that the Secretariat sees as a priority—there needs to be a very clear division here. That which is political needs not to be in the Assembly Secretariat—indeed, it needs not to be in any of the departments’ appropriations. Decisions made by the executive are; decisions to run the Assembly are. Indeed, yes, we know that currently the admin and procedure committee is looking at the Latimer House principles. What comes out of that, if it is recommended, will be rightly looked at by your vote, Mr Speaker, in the Assembly—as to how that is actually implemented. But to have it up front in these documents is a step down the politicisation of institutions that should be apolitical. We had the discussion on the day; unfortunately, I have not had a chance to read your response. I shall read it shortly and if I feel the need to say anything further I will.
It is important that the Secretariat is financed appropriately. It is important, for instance, that the committee secretariat is financed appropriately, given the burden that we have all placed on the committee secretariat in terms of extra committees, whether they are select committees or extra inquiries for the standing committees. It is important that, first, as I think we all do, we appreciate the work that is done by the committee staff but, second, we need to make sure that it is an appropriate response.
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