Page 914 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 25 July 1989
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MR MOORE (9.46): Mr Speaker, I move:
That the following new clause be inserted in Part X of the Bill:
Annual report
"81A.(1) The Registrar shall furnish to the Minister for presentation to the Legislative Assembly a report relating to the activities of the Registrar during each financial year.
(2) The report in respect of a financial year shall be furnished to the Minister within 3 months after the end of that year.
(3) The Minister shall present a copy of each report to the Legislative Assembly within 6 sitting days of the Assembly after the day on which the Minister receives the report.".
The clause is with reference to reporting. I believe it is important that, whenever we have a Bill passed, reporting to this Assembly be a compulsory and important part of the particular task of the Bill. In the case of the Pesticides Bill, I think it is important for the elected representatives of the people to ensure that they know exactly to what extent dangerous chemicals are being used and the costs that have been involved in their restrictions and their use.
I hasten to add that this does not suggest that there be a separate report to the Minister or the Assembly. I quite accept that it could well be done as part of another report - for example, to the Office of City Management. It could be done as a subsection of a report like that. I believe that it is important that this Assembly put a requirement on officers who are in charge of important areas to report, and to report within a reasonable time so that the report is not old hat by the time we have it. For that reason we have suggested the amendment that members have in front of them.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (9.47): Mr Speaker, the Government would put to Mr Moore that we do not necessarily wish to oppose this proposal, because it is a matter which is under review by the Government at this point of time - it is a question of reporting. We would like to put to Mr Moore, through you, Mr Speaker, the proposition that he consider withdrawing his amendment temporarily, and the Government would undertake to support this matter being considered at a later time. The reason we do that is that we presently have under consideration a very similar amendment in the recommendations of the Select Committee on Occupational Health and Safety. The Government has its report under active consideration, and it wishes to determine - - -
Mr Kaine: Under active consideration? That means it is in the bottom drawer, not underneath the carpet.
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