Page 3420 - Week 08 - Thursday, 23 August 2012
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From what I could gather from asking the same questions of different directorates, action can be quite ad hoc.
I would like to mention triple bottom line reporting and assessment. This has been a major project for CMCD and is something that the Greens believe has been done well. We are concerned now to see that the application of the framework will fulfil the potential of the work that has been done to date. Again this is an issue that we have to be actively pushing within agencies and assistance needs to be provided to them so that they can use the tools and fulfil the requirements set out in the framework. We would like to see them supported to do that.
An important part of the TBL framework is climate change impact assessment, which is an item from the parliamentary agreement. We are pleased that a mechanism for assessing climate change assessment has now been developed and look forward to it being rolled out, implemented and embedded. I would say that without assistance to agencies they will struggle to meet the expectations in that recently released framework.
I would like to mention the change to the Ombudsman, bringing that office within the CMCD directorate. Firstly, on the question of the housing of the Ombudsman, I make the point that the Ombudsman should be recognised as an officer of the parliament and established as an independent stand-alone agency that sits outside the executive. We think that this is the best way of ensuring that the office of the Ombudsman best fulfils its role as an accountability mechanism and a check on executive government and the actions that they take. That said, the Greens have no objection to moving the Ombudsman within CMCD if it is to remain housed by another executive agency. I can see sense in having the Ombudsman directly reporting to CMCD, which is responsible for whole-of-government agency, and is probably best placed to drive changes across the public service.
There is also a significant increase in the funding for this office and that is something that the Greens very much welcome. I think we can all agree that the office fulfils a very important function and that additional money invested in the Ombudsman will ultimately deliver returns through the better delivery of service by agencies.
On the celebration of the centenary, the Greens support the appropriation to help us celebrate this incredibly important birthday and milestone in the city’s history. It should be an occasion that all Canberrans can participate in and feel proud of. I am very much looking forward to the unveiling of the program. That should occur early in September, on 4 September or so. From what I can see there will be a huge range of activities and events that should engage all Canberrans and hopefully people from right across Australia.
The other important work that CMCD has undertaken and will continue to work on with this appropriation is the open government website and surrounding reforms. Certainly the Greens very much welcome the progress but I would say that beneath the snazzy or the good-looking front page of the website much of the information within it is not at this stage hugely useful and it does simply replicate information that
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