Page 1177 - Week 03 - Thursday, 31 March 2011
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arrant nonsense. It is not physically possible for it to be done in that short time frame. Assuming the Treasurer can deliver the review in November, it is just not physically possible for a committee to do it.
If there are serious issues raised in the report, if there is a need for consultation, if there is a need for further public hearings, if there is a need for further submissions from interested bodies, it just cannot be done in the three or four weeks that the Treasurer is proposing. So it is a shame she has got such contempt for such an important process. I commend my motion, as is, to the Assembly.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (11.53), by leave: As I did say in my earlier speech, I did put that date of March. There was some discussion between my office and the Committee Office on what was a reasonable time frame, and that is how I came to my amendment around March.
I do appreciate Ms Gallagher’s comments around the need to move ahead and to get some result here, and that is why I did say earlier that we would appreciate it if the public accounts committee were able to wrap up their inquiry earlier. But we still need to put a reasonable time frame in there in case they are unable to wrap up, say, before Christmas. But I certainly urge them, if they can, to do that as quickly as possible. But it is, as we said, a complex issue. It needs proper consideration and we certainly do not want it rushed. It does need to take its course. At the same time, as I said, we would appreciate it if they can report earlier.
Also I acknowledge Ms Gallagher’s statement that she has instructed Treasury to get onto this review, to start on 1 October and to have that done by November. I think that shows that there will be some information available to the public accounts committee. Once again, that may assist them to report earlier and if they can, as I said, we will welcome that.
Ms Gallagher’s amendment to Ms Hunter’s proposed amendment negatived.
Ms Hunter’s amendment agreed to.
Motion, as amended, agreed to.
Education, Training and Youth Affairs—Standing Committee
Report 5—government response
Debate resumed from 15 February 2011, on motion by Mr Barr:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Mr Hargreaves) adjourned to the next sitting.
Executive business—precedence
Ordered that executive business be called on.
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