Page 1796 - Week 06 - Thursday, 14 May 2015
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In relation to the committee’s recommendations to disaggregate data presented in the annual reports, the government remains of the view that whole-of-government reporting is appropriate. This particular amendment to the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act supports the embedding of a one service model in the ACT public service. It contributes to the reduction of red tape and unnecessary duplication and, in our view, does not diminish accountability or transparency.
The amendments I will move in the detail stage will implement the government response to the committee report, which addresses many of the issues that have been raised during the committee process. I thank members for their contribution to the debate in principle and look forward to the detail stage providing a way forward and allowing me to table Chief Minister’s annual report directions later this afternoon.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Urban Renewal and Minister for Tourism and Events) (11.59): Pursuant to standing order 182A(b), I seek leave to move amendments Nos 1 to 8, which are minor and technical in nature.
Leave granted.
Clauses 1 to 4, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 5.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (11.59): We have moved on a little bit since the in-principle debate in this place in March. I indicated then that the opposition was satisfied that the approach that the government was taking to remove elements of information was a good move. We wanted to monitor the detail of that. We said we would keep a close eye on how that took effect but that removing information that was reported on that was nugatory, or duplicated in other places, made sense.
We had significant concerns with the time lines that were being introduced, which essentially said that we wanted to provide less information in annual reports but we wanted an extension of time. So we have made it clear, as I said back in March, that although we support the intent of the streamlining of information, we do not support the proposal to reduce the time lines.
I will foreshadow some of the amendments Mr Barr is going to bring forward. The bill was referred to a committee at that point, the public accounts committee, which looked at the bill and sought advice. I believe there were submissions from the Auditor-General, who said that she had sufficient time. The public accounts committee has broadly reflected what the opposition said, which was that we should stick with the original time frames for reporting. The government has rejected that.
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