Page 5667 - Week 15 - Thursday, 10 December 2009
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When a committee presents a unanimously agreed report, it means that all the members of the committee, all three, one from each of the political parties that make up this Assembly, have agreed to its contents. They are satisfied that the report delivers a fair and reasonable but, more importantly, frank and fearless account of the committee’s deliberations.
The committee takes into account the evidence provided to it, both written and oral. It delivers its findings and recommendations that arise from the process of inquiry and evidence taking. By trying to claim the committee’s inquiry and unanimous report were somehow to meet my agenda, the minister is suggesting that there is some kind of collusion going on.
Such a suggestion is utterly offensive and I reject it in the strongest terms. In any case, collusion would require me to convince the other two members of the committee, representatives of vastly different parties, to come on board with me. The chance of that happening, although I have considerable regard for my persuasive powers, I think is very low.
Mr Seselja: Is Ms Porter colluding in a conspiracy against you, Simon?
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, Mrs Dunne has the floor. She is doing okay by herself.
MRS DUNNE: In his speech made on 19 November, Mr Corbell observed:
This committee has the gall to act as though it is some commission of inquiry or a court.
Mr Corbell shows ignorance and disrespect because that is precisely what the committee is set up to do. Committees are established or commissioned, if you like, by the Assembly. They are set terms of reference. The Assembly sets terms of reference for them. They operate under privilege. They are able to subpoena witnesses and they are able to make findings of contempt for poor behaviour or perjury. They are able to inquire into matters of their own volition or by motion of the Assembly. The role of the Assembly’s committees is precisely to conduct inquiries. Mr Corbell further observed that the committee:
… is not satisfied with recommendations; it has to make findings …
Well, why not, Mr Assistant Speaker? Surely, a committee is a nonsense if nothing comes out of it. A committee’s role is to inquire into government decision making, policy development and the legislative processes. Then it will make recommendations that are underpinned by the findings that arise out of the inquiry process. What is the purpose of these findings and recommendations? Quite simply, they are to inform the government of matters that can assist the government to learn from past experiences and thus improve and refine the processes for the future.
The minister’s reaction to the JACS committee report on the AMC showed quite clearly that he took the report personally. He could not rise above the personal and see
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