Page 3278 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 17 September 2013
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done in the estimates report. Let me be very clear, because there is a lot of brouhaha around my chairmanship of the estimates report, that the way that we considered the estimates report was exactly the same way as Mr Gentleman chaired this planning report. Remember how critical he and Dr Bourke were of the way I chaired the estimates report. He did exactly what I did, except what I did at the conclusion of that consideration was that I moved that the report be adopted. And Mr Gentleman failed to do that. That is the key point of difference and that is why we have ended up in this place.
Mr Gentleman, if he is going to take the role of chair of a committee of this place, if he is going to take the money for being chair of a committee of this place, has the responsibility to do his job properly. He has failed to do that in this place. And I am disappointed that it has reached a point where he has tried to sneak through a committee report that is simply a chair’s draft, he has tried to create the impression that it is a committee report.
I think it further illustrates the fact that we have a problem with the four-member committees and any suggestion, as was made by the Chief Minister, that there is some attempt from the opposition to somehow manipulate that process or drag the committees down or make them dysfunctional is, I think, shown in stark contrast by the fact that the person who has attempted to do that, the person who has attempted to circumvent the practice of this place and the House of Reps practice, is actually Mr Gentleman. And that is what he has done.
This side of the chamber has at all times conformed with the House of Reps practice and the conventions of this place, and we will continue to do so. And I call on that side of the chamber to make sure that, where members of the Labor Party are chairs of a committee, they do not try to sneak around the standing orders or House of Reps Practice.
So it is good that this draft chair’s report will go back to the committee, and I look forward to seeing whatever comes back to the Assembly. Hopefully what we will see back here is a proper report from the committee.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Papers
Madam Speaker presented the following papers:
Standing order 191—Amendments to the Construction and Energy Efficiency Legislation Amendment Bill 2013, dated 20 and 21 August 2013.
Ethics and Integrity Adviser for Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory, pursuant to Continuing Resolution 6A of the Assembly of 10 April 2008, as amended 21 August 2008—Report for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013, dated 5 August 2013.
Estimates 2013-2014—Select Committee—
Schedule of outstanding answers to questions on notice at 6 September 2013.
Answers to questions on notice Nos. E13-138 and E13-178.
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