Page 5668 - Week 15 - Thursday, 10 December 2009
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that the purpose of the report is to pave the way for improved and refined processes in the future. So, once again, we have a minister showing his ignorance of and disrespect for the process of committees in this place.
Assembly committees are important, even critical, elements in the parliamentary process. They are the pathway to transparency and accountability. They are the pathway to detailed analysis of government decision making, policy development and their legislative processes. They are the pathway for the people of the ACT to be engaged in the parliamentary process in a very direct and effective way. They are the pathway to learning about past mistakes and how those mistakes can be turned into positive outcomes in the future. They are the pathway to better outcomes for the people of Canberra.
Assembly committees play an important role in the process of government. They and their deliberations and outcomes deserve support and respect. I put this motion forward today because I feel it is time that the Assembly stopped for a moment and reflected on the important role of committees. I put this motion forward because I feel that it is time members individually reflected on their own attitude towards Assembly committees and their roles. And I put this motion forward because I feel it is time that the Assembly reaffirms its support for the committee process. I therefore commend this motion to the Assembly.
Motion (by Mr Corbell) proposed:
That debate be adjourned.
Standing and temporary orders—suspension
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (11.53): I move:
That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent debate on the motion to adjourn debate being debated.
This is a very unfortunate turn of events. This motion has been available to members since Tuesday. If the minister is not prepared or the government is not prepared, this is not the way to deal with it. This is an important matter, and what we see is the tetchiness from the minister who does not want to deal with this matter.
We in the opposition consider that the position of committees is somewhat in jeopardy because of the response of this minister and how he was supported by the Chief Minister the other day, and it is time to reaffirm this very important matter. I do not think that it is appropriate, with the reputation of our committees being held up to such ridicule by the Attorney-General and the Chief Minister, that we let this hang over until February.
I understand that there is some level of support for this motion from the Greens but it is inappropriate that it should be adjourned at this stage. We have plenty of time available to us in Assembly business. It is also part of what seems to be the characteristic of the government, which is in a tearing hurry to get out of here today, for some reason—I cannot quite work it out—and this is all part of their process: “We want to get through the business.”
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