Page 4306 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
more than happy to provide to the Assembly—indeed, I intend to provide it to the Assembly, I believe, in November—on all of the findings and recommendations of the Auditor-General. Of course, part of that will go to that particular issue.
I do not walk away from the fact that—and I have said this publicly in relation to this particular report—it is simply not acceptable that ACT government agencies do not meet, comply with or fulfil their statutory obligations. At one level, it is the sort of failing or oversight by government agencies that is not and cannot be excused and, more often than not, cannot be explained otherwise than by saying that the relevant officer, for whatever reason, was not aware of the officer’s obligation and, through that lack of awareness, did not meet or fulfil it.
I do not stand here and pretend to seek to defend any breach or alleged breach of a legislative requirement. As I say, compliance in respect of the law is fundamental, and the ACT government expects all of its agencies to comply at all times with the law.
MR HANSON: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Minister, has ACTION now reported all bus accidents that it has been involved in since 2001 to the Road Transport Authority and, if not, why not?
MR STANHOPE: I have not checked on which steps have been taken in relation to some of those breaches, other than to say that I have indicated to the department my expectation that they will provide a comprehensive response to every single one of the recommendations in the report within the three-month time frame that is demanded of them, and they will. In the context of that, Mr Hanson, you will have an answer to that question.
I think it is fair to say that a report has been delivered, the report is critical and it highlights a number of failings in process. The department and ACTION management have taken a flogging as a result of the report, as has the network. They are chastened, regretful—
Mr Hanson: Are you chastened and regretful?
MR STANHOPE: I am chastened and regretful on behalf of my department, certainly. I share their angst. Indeed, I share the regret that this particular report has been treated and reported in the way that it has. As a consequence of this particular report, the ACTION network has suffered a very significant blow to its reputation that I believe could have been avoided and should have been avoided. As I say, as a minister that has invested enormous energy in seeking to reform ACTION, many of our efforts over the last couple of years have been significantly damaged and put back and retarded by this particular report.
I would have hoped, even accepting the very valid and legitimate role that the auditor plays, that we might have been able to achieve—I think it is something for us to
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video