Page 5588 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (5.02): Having earlier spoken in support of a blackout period, I just want to clarify the Greens’ position on this. As Mr Seselja has touched on, this was another area to which we gave considerable thought. Ultimately, what it came down to was recognising that, working logically, if the legislation achieves what it sets out to, we should not actually need the blackout period. It did make more sense to simply have a tidy, single cut-off date around the caretaker period. That is the basis on which we have shifted from our earlier support for the blackout period, having gone through the consideration and the committee process.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 14, as amended, agreed to.
Proposed new part 3A, incorporating new clauses 14A to 14D.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (5.03): I move amendment No 16 circulated in my name [see schedule 3 at page 5630].
This inserts new clauses 14A to 14D dealing with reporting requirements. It is included as per recommendation 7. These submissions noted the importance of open and accountable use of taxpayer funds. The committee noted that the commonwealth reports on a biannual basis. The committee supported the reporting model similar to that adopted by the commonwealth. In particular, the committee supported tabling a report on a biannual basis within the first quarter after the end of the reporting period to avoid excessive delay in reporting.
The amendment requires biannual reports on each campaign reviewed; campaign costs itemised by the kind of the costs incurred, for example, production air time; the ways used to disseminate the information—that is, what media was used; the results of the review; the reasons for the conclusions; that the report be given to the Assembly; instructions on how to report sensitive information, including how to deal with personal information, trade secrets or sensitive commercial or business information; and prevention of reporting that would prejudice legal proceedings. The committee was very clear that reporting is a crucial element in this bill, and we have put forward a detailed, well-considered response to those comments. I commend it to the Assembly.
Proposed new part 3A, including new clauses 14A to 14D, agreed to.
Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (5.05), by leave, I move amendments 17 to 23 circulated in my name together [see schedule 3 at page 5633].
MR SESELJA: Amendment 17 is in response to replacing the Auditor-General with an independent reviewer, so references in other parts to the Auditor-General had to be changed. It is a consistency amendment. Amendments 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 are all revisions to the dictionary as a result of changes in the substantive bill.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video