Page 1112 - Week 06 - Thursday, 27 July 1989
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penalty provisions, formalise existing arrangements and make it clear that water rates accruing for the period before the transfer of function to ACT Electricity and Water on 1 July 1988 are payable to the Territory and that the rates payable from 1 July 1988 are payable to the Authority.
To protect land owners who have made payments to the Authority in respect of pre-July 1988 rates, the Bill provides that such payments discharge the debt. I now present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Kaine) adjourned.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (MEMBERS' STAFF) BILL 1989
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister) (4.54): Mr Speaker, I present the Legislative Assembly (Members' Staff) Bill 1989. I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
The Legislative Assembly (Members' Staff) Bill 1989 provides for the employment of consultants and staff by Ministers, certain office holders and members of the Legislative Assembly.
In presenting the Bill, the Government demonstrates the belief that Ministers and members should have assistance in key projects from able people who share their values and objectives or who can bring relevant specialised or advanced skills.
It also reflects a belief that career public servants should not have to be drawn into political and partisan argument. The interim procedures used to date to employ Assembly members' staff have consisted largely of simple contractual arrangements or the temporary employment provisions of the Public Service Act. It is anticipated that this Bill, based upon the Commonwealth Government's Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984, will allow greater flexibility than the interim procedures allow.
It is the Government's intention in introducing this Bill to provide individual Ministers and members with the maximum flexibility and autonomy in matters concerning their own staff. In so doing, they also become accountable for them.
Additionally, the Bill will dispense with questions of the propriety of employing staff under the current arrangements. In particular, the Bill clearly recognises: the inherently political role of the staff involved; and their primary responsibility to their relevant member of the Legislative Assembly, rather than to the ACT government service.
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