Page 910 - Week 03 - Thursday, 19 March 2015
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(2) the Select Committee shall consist of two members nominated by the Government and two members nominated by the Opposition, to be nominated to the Speaker by 5 pm on this sitting day;
(3) the Chair of the Select Committee will be an Opposition member;
(4) the Select Committee shall inquire and report into the financial, economic, social and environmental aspects of the Capital Metro Light Rail project;
(5) the Select Committee shall report no later than the last sitting week in March 2016; and
(6) the Government must not proceed with light rail prior to the Select Committee reporting.
Madam Speaker, it is with much anticipation, obviously, from Minister Corbell and others opposite that I seek to establish a select committee on capital metro.
Mr Corbell: Again.
Mr COE: Minister Corbell interjects, “Again.” That is a very good point, because for years now the opposition has been calling for additional scrutiny of what will be the biggest expenditure item ever in the history of the ACT. It is for that reason that we believe instituting the highest level of scrutiny that this Assembly can establish would be a worthwhile step for us to take.
There is considerable doubt about this project from many members of the community, and I think even those opposite would accept that fact. Even those opposite would surely accept that this is a controversial project. Even those opposite would accept that there is concern about how the route was chosen, or about the patronage fears, or about how it will be financed. How will it be funded? Will it be up-front? Will there be an availability payment model? How will the consortium work with the ACT government? What will be the nature of the PPP? And there are many other questions.
We would be foolish if we thought that we in this place had all the answers. Therefore, why don’t we have a select committee that can get to the bottom of this issue? A select committee can provide genuine advice along the way—to the government, to the opposition and to the community at large. I would envisage that a select committee that looked into light rail would be able to, of course, hear from Capital Metro Agency experts and from the minister and other relevant ministers. It would also give an opportunity to members of the community to be able to contribute to the committee process.
To date, whilst we have, on the back of a previous motion that I have moved, more interaction with the Capital Metro Agency and with the Minister for Capital Metro, we are yet to have members of the community being given an opportunity to contribute to an Assembly committee or even an inquiry concentrating on light rail.
The proposal I have put forward as listed on the notice paper suggests the membership should be two members from the government and two members from the opposition.
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