Page 5153 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
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MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (6.07): I move amendment No 11 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 5201]. This amendment specifies the appointment process. It should be a competitive one. We should not have a situation where the commissioner is essentially hand-picked or the pool is unnecessarily restricted. Any appointments should be open, accountable and competitive to ensure that the best person gets the job.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (6.07): I am happy to agree with Mr Coe on this point. It is somewhat superfluous, but there is no harm in adding this in, so we support this amendment.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (6.08): We also support this amendment. We think it is a valuable addition to the wording.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause 27, as amended, agreed to.
Clauses 28 to 36, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 37.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (6.08): I move amendment No 12 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 5201]. Madam Speaker, just as the Assembly requires a two-thirds vote to appoint the commissioner, we think a two-0thirds vote should be required to suspend the commissioner. Therefore it would be consistent on exit and on entry.
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, Minister for Tourism and Special Events and Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment) (6.09): The government will not be supporting this. Whilst it might be consistent on entry and exit, it would not be consistent with any other statutory office holder, for there is no requirement for a two-thirds majority to suspend or end the appointment of any other statutory office holder. Imposing this requirement would mean that it would be more onerous to remove a commissioner than it would be to remove a judge, which would make the process unjustifiably different from existing statutory office holders. We will not be supporting this amendment.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (6.10): The Greens will not be supporting this amendment. The two-thirds majority is required for the appointment of the commissioner, but there is a requirement for consultation with all parties and the committee in place for a suspension. As Mr Barr has just noted, if we did pass this, it would create a higher bar for suspension than exists for judges, and I do not think that is a standard the Assembly needs to set. There is an extensive process in there, and we will not be supporting this amendment.
Amendment negatived.
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