Page 401 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 June 1989
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the provision of two law libraries? How can the Government claim to be providing efficient and cost-effective administration when waste and duplication of this kind occur?
MS FOLLETT: Yes, it is a fact that a Government Solicitor's Office has been established under the ACT Government Solicitors Act 1989. That office will be performing a range of functions for the ACT Government, as is the normal case, and will be taking over in particular the work that had been done by the Australian Government Solicitor when this administration was under federal control. That is not an unusual step to have been taken. I think it is a perfectly proper course of action for the handling of Government Solicitor's work, particularly where it might involve litigation. I think that is quite reasonable.
I believe it is also true that there has been a small cell attached to the Community and Health Service which performed specialised legal tasks and that this cell performed work separately from the work the Australian Government Solicitor had done previously. It appears to me that there has been no duplication of the work of those two bodies, but I think it is quite legitimate for me to undertake to ensure that there is no duplication of effort, and I will certainly be asking for a report where there may be any overlap between those two bodies. As you say, it is essential that we operate a lean and efficient administration and, if there is overlap there, then that matter needs to be addressed. It is not clear that there is, but I am certainly willing to have a look at that.
MR HUMPHRIES: I ask a supplementary question. The Chief Minister referred to a small cell in the Community and Health Service. I understand that recently advertisements have been placed in the Canberra Times for principal legal officers, senior legal officers and legal officers within that cell. Can the Minister say how many members are proposed to be employed as lawyers within that small cell?
MS FOLLETT: No, I cannot say. I do not have that information with me at present, but I could certainly undertake to get advice on it and provide you with that information as soon as I can. But I have made it clear that I am not anxious to see any duplication or overlap in this legal area, and certainly not to see any overexpenditure on resources where that can be avoided. So given that that is my intention to have a fairly streamlined and efficient Government Solicitor service throughout the administration, I would like members to understand that that is well and truly my intention. Certainly I will get further information on what is in place in the Community and Health Service and, as I have said, will be looking to see whether there is any overlap there or any wastage of resources.
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