Page 921 - Week 03 - Thursday, 28 February 2013

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I hope that members of the estimates committee will be able to work together to ensure that there is a high level of scrutiny of the budget. And I guess if all else fails, the committee has the ability to bring matters back to the chamber, where the numbers are not even, and we can resolve the matters there if that is so required. But I think there is a lot of scope for the committee to make an effort to ensure that they have a good process for all those matters that the committee needs to decide on, the calling of witnesses, the timing of hearings. Frankly, those things should be able to be sorted out without the necessity for a majority on the committee and if the committee cannot sort those things out, I think that reflects poorly on the members of it.

You can make an aim. This is not ideal but this is how it will be for the next four years, where it is an equally split Assembly. For the first time in the Assembly’s history, we have a crossbench set up the way it is. Because I have gone into the ministry, I obviously cannot participate in the committee processes. There might be a select committee down the line where that is appropriate but I think, for the bulk of the committees, this is how it is going to be for this Assembly, and we need to make sure we can get that system to work.

Ordered that the question be divided.

Mr Barr’s amendment No 1 agreed to.

Question put:

That Mr Barr’s amendment No 2 be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 9

Noes 8

Mr Barr

Ms Gallagher

Mr Coe

Mr Seselja

Ms Berry

Mr Gentleman

Mr Doszpot

Mr Smyth

Dr Bourke

Ms Porter

Mrs Dunne

Mr Wall

Ms Burch

Mr Rattenbury

Mr Hanson

Mr Corbell

Mrs Jones

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Regional development—Select Committee

Establishment

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Health and Minister for Higher Education) (10.38): I move:

That:

(1) this Assembly notes:

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