Page 1730 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2017
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MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (4.56): I agree that commercial expertise is required, and I think it is implicit in the establishment of a statutory authority and the required expertise of board members. I do not have a strong view against it not appearing here, but I think that ultimately it is already accounted for within the legislation, so we will not support this amendment at this time.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (4.57): The Greens’ view is very similar to Mr Barr’s. We do not have a very strong feeling about this. Commercial expertise is somewhat implicit in the board structure, but we think it is very important that the other things which are mentioned as areas of expertise should be mentioned. As I said, it is not something that we feel particularly strongly about, though commercial expertise should not be number one.
Amendment negatived.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism and Major Events) (4.58), by leave: I move amendments Nos 8 and 9 circulated in my name together [see schedule 2 at page 1772]. Amendment No 8 rephrases the consideration the minister must give to the composition of the CRA board by requiring the minister to ensure, as far as practicable, that each discipline and area of expertise mentioned in section 20(2) is represented among the appointed members.
In relation to amendment No 9, the Financial Management Act 1996 provides that, if a territory authority board has six or more members, public servants may be appointed to the board. As a consequence of increasing the size of the CRA board through amendment No 4, amendment No 8 expressly provides that a board member of the CRA must not be a public servant. This ensures the continuing independence of the board and mirrors the approach taken in the bill, under which the chief executive officer is not a member of the board.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (4.59): These are entirely sensible, and we support them.
Amendments agreed to.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (4.59): I move amendment No 11 circulated in my name [see schedule 4 at page 1778]. Again, I think this is an important governance measure whereby we are trying to restrict the involvement of board members in fraud, corruption or any other misconduct. Importantly, there is a provision that if it is unsubstantiated or if the minister is satisfied that the issue is not so serious as to restrict a person’s involvement in the board, the minister can make that declaration.
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