Page 5164 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018
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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) (7.45): These remarks will cover all of the amendments that go to this question of oversight and reporting. The government has acknowledged, from the initial exposure draft to this legislation, the views of the committee in relation to not wanting excessive oversight turning the inspector into a line manager for the commission. That is understood. That is why the changes have been made to move to monthly reporting, rather than effectively real-time reporting.
We think this strikes the right balance. The inspector is an important safeguard for all parties, including the commission itself, to remain within the scope of its extensive powers and functions. So it is our view to err on the side of caution here. Monthly reporting is not too arduous for the commission. And it acts as a very important safeguard not only for the commission itself but for all parties who may come within the commission’s interest over time. This, we believe, strikes the right balance. Hence we do not agree with its removal as Mr Coe intends through the various amendments.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (7.47): Equally, I am speaking to the broad issue that we are discussing here. This is one area that I have changed my mind on since the committee discussion. In the committee we talked about the fact that we did not want the inspector playing a line management role or an operational role. But persuasive arguments were put in the discussions over the last couple of weeks that, particularly in the early days of the commission, having some degree of at least reasonably frequent reporting offers an opportunity to, if there are concerning trends emerging, pick them up more quickly in this way.
Mr Coe talked about potentially quarterly reporting being more appropriate. I laughed because we often have the debate the other way about wanting more frequent reporting.
Mr Coe: We are not getting the reports.
MR RATTENBURY: I realise this. But often in this place we discuss the amount of reporting somebody should do, and it is an interesting role reversal here. In the early days of the commission, having a bit more frequent reporting will enable any flaws in the legislation or operational problems to be picked up. It might that when we hit the review point for this legislation there is a view formed that less frequent reporting is required. But I am comfortable to err on the side of a bit more frequency at this point in the commission’s history.
Amendment negatived.
Clause 78 agreed to.
Clause 79.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (7.49): I move amendment No 31 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 5203].
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