Page 671 - Week 02 - Thursday, 20 March 2014
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Advertising) Act 2009, which aims to prevent the misuse of public funds. This is an important role in ensuring integrity, transparency and trust in the use of public funds for government communications, and as part of the review process the reports of the independent reviewer are presented to the Assembly.
Professor Pearce has had a long and distinguished career in academia and public office over many years. He joined what is now the ANU College of Law in 1968 as a lecturer, and was promoted to professor in 1981. He was dean of the law school from 1982 to 1984 and from 1991 to 1993. He was acting deputy vice-chancellor in 1994 and retired in 1996. On retirement, he was appointed as emeritus professor of the university. While on the staff of the college, Professor Pearce taught a range of subjects but primarily administrative law, legislation and intellectual property.
In addition to his achievements in the academic world, Professor Pearce has also held many public positions and is currently the Independent Reviewer for the Advertising Standards Bureau. His former roles include foundation adviser to the Senate scrutiny of bills committee from 1981 to 1983, the first ACT Ombudsman from 1989 to 1991, the Commonwealth and Defence Force Ombudsman from 1988 to 1990, Chairman of the Australian Press Council from 1997 to 2000, member and later Chair of the Copyright Law Review Committee from 1983 to 2000 and foundation President of the ACT Racing Appeals Tribunal from 2001 to 2004.
He has conducted many inquiries for the commonwealth and ACT governments, most notably in recent times the inquiry into sexual and other abuse in the Australian Defence Force. Professor Pearce is currently leading an investigation into allegations of workplace bullying in the CSIRO.
He was made an officer in the Order of Australia in 2003 and was awarded a Centenary Medal for his services to copyright. Professor Pearce’s extensive experience makes him perfectly acquainted with the realities and sensitivities of government advertising and equips him to judge what is and is not appropriate in the expenditure of public funding. I consider him to be highly qualified to take on this role for the Assembly, and I hope this view is shared and supported by other MLAs.
I am also nominating Mr Volker to be appointed to the role of alternate campaign advertising independent reviewer in the event that Professor Pearce is unavailable. Mr Volker was appointed as the first independent reviewer in February 2011 and for the past three years has performed the duties of the position with integrity and professionalism. His experience, diligence, thoughtful advice and responsiveness during his tenure have been invaluable. I thank members for the discussions we have had outside this chamber.
I think the process around the appointment of the independent reviewer has been a much improved process on the one we went through the first time. I thank colleagues for working with me on this. I look forward to the Assembly supporting these nominations.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (4.48): I indicate that the opposition will be supporting this motion today. Certainly Professor Pearce is very
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