Page 5228 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 18 November 2009

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1 January—this can be done. I think that is an unreasonable time frame and the six-month delay in commencement is a more reasonable time to find the expertise that we will need to find if this legislation passes today, particularly as it will relate to EPIC Corporation.

MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (4.36): Further to the Treasurer’s comments, it is clear that were this amendment to be passed it would be very destabilising for the EPIC board. It would mean that the membership of the board could fall below its statutory minimum and the government would be denied adequate time to canvass and select appropriate replacement board members. Pending some further decisions that we will make in the detail stage, the selection process might indeed be narrowed significantly, depending on whether a particular government amendment on the definition of a public servant is not accepted. We will wait to see what happens there. The government amendment that the Treasurer will be moving proposes that the act commence six months after its notification, and that would give time to see a proper process for appointment to this board.

I would certainly urge the Greens to consider this matter because six weeks is a very short process, particularly as it goes over the Christmas and holiday periods. And we have heard from members extensively about the difficulties in undertaking some of those processes and many other consultation processes and appointment processes during holiday periods.

MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (4.37): The Greens will be supporting this amendment. I think this matter has been lingering around for long enough now. We should simply get it resolved and move on. I think the government has been aware that this bill is coming on, that it has the numbers to pass, and I think we should simply move forward as quickly as possible to enable EPIC to keep moving with some of the important projects that it has got under its new arrangements.

Question put:

That Mr Smyth’s amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

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