Page 1472 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 10 April 2013
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MR HANSON: Tabling in the Assembly is not anything like a vote. Just tabling something that is a decision by the shareholders is not a decision of this Assembly. You do not make a decision as a shareholder, table it here and say that is a decision of the Assembly.
These are further things that need to be looked at. Again, there is a light that needs to be shone on this, but it will not be because this government is avoiding scrutiny.
What I am asking for is what the community want—some clarity about what has been occurring in ACTEW, confirmation and assurance that this is an organisation that is being managed on their behalf. They are essentially the owners. The community are the owners of this, through the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. They want some assurance that what is going on in ACTEW is good governance, appropriate governance, and that it is an asset of $1.4 billion that is managed properly for the people of the ACT. I would say to you that there is nobody in this place or in the community that can put their hand on their heart and say that that is the case. And we will not see it, because this government and the Greens—I will get to that later—are squibbing their responsibilities.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (4.44): I thank Mr Hanson for raising these issues today. I certainly agree with some of his opening remarks about how these issues have indeed been extensively canvassed in the media, in the Assembly and in, I think it was, an hour of public accounts hearings last week, where a number of questions were asked. That is good to see. As shareholders, the Chief Minister and I have obviously been asking a lot of questions in relation to the various issues. We have a number of processes in place to resolve each of the issues that have certainly caused concern to the shareholders, to the government, to the Assembly and, indeed, to the broader community. So the proposed way forward that I am suggesting today and that is contained in the amendments that I believe have been circulated to all members provides a very clear pathway to resolution of each of the issues, outlines time frames for reporting back to the Assembly and ensures that there is public disclosure in relation to the resolution of each of the issues.
I think it is certainly worth observing that whilst there are a number issues and yes, they all relate to ACTEW, they have different timelines for resolution, different levels of complexity and of course different processes of resolution, some of which may ultimately be brought back to the Assembly by way of structural reform. Others will be dealt with at the special general meeting next week.
I seek leave to move four amendments together.
Leave granted.
MR BARR: I move:
(1) Omit subparagraph (1)(a), substitute:
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