Page 597 - Week 02 - Thursday, 20 February 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Additionally, this motion does allow those who have a particular policy or committee interest being present—as they usually are—to potentially be counted as part of quorum for the purposes of taking evidence, so long as at least one other committee member is present. This is eminently sensible. This is a new approach for estimates committees, which will probably require a touch more communication, but I do not think that that is beyond us. Hopefully, it takes us one step closer to using standing committees to review the appropriation bill, which I regret must be resigned to being pursued in the next term of parliament.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee
Report 16
MS J BURCH (Brindabella) (11.33): I present the following report:
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee—Report 16—Inquiry into the Review of the Performance of the Three Branches of Government in the Australian Capital Territory against Latimer House Principles—9th Assembly, dated 19 February 2020, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
I move:
That the report be noted.
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra) (11.33): In speaking to the report, I will give a bit more context about what is included in it for those who are not members of the administration and procedure committee. In the second year after a general election, following consultation with the administration and procedure committee, the Speaker usually appoints a suitably qualified person to conduct an assessment of the implementation of the Latimer House Principles in the governance of the ACT. The report that results is tabled in the Assembly and then it is referred to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure for inquiry and report.
The review produces a report, which is then given to the administration and procedure committee to inquire into and report on. The review report was tabled on 17 September 2019, about which time the standing committee began its review, including writing to relevant stakeholders and seeking comments. We did receive some feedback, which is detailed in the report.
I wish to draw members’ attention to one particular section of the report before I go into the recommendations. In considering the review and its recommendations, the committee was appreciative of the work done by the review team, which encompasses a review of the whole system of government in the territory. However, we do believe that on some occasions criticisms were made with little empirical evidence and, indeed, no investigation. In fact, some matters raised were somewhat trivial and not within the scope of the Latimer House Principles and, occasionally, broad, sweeping
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video