Page 942 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 19 April 1994
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Mr Berry: What about the Estimates Committee?
MR MOORE: Mr Berry draws attention to the precedent set in terms of Ms Szuty and the first Estimates Committee. I think at that time we recognised that it was a far better process, if we can use it, to appoint the committees and then allow them to elect their chairs. There is a major difference, of course. The Estimates Committee is a select committee, and we are talking now about a standing committee of the Assembly. There is a difference there; nevertheless, I think it is appropriate that we ensure that we do this in the best possible way. I accept that the outcome in this instance will be the same; nevertheless, it is important that we deal with it appropriately. I therefore move the following amendment:
Paragraph (1), omit all words after "place".
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.25): Madam Speaker, first of all, may I place on record my appreciation for the letter I received this day from Mr De Domenico, on behalf of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee, in which the committee expressed its appreciation to me as the former chair. May I again place on record my appreciation for the close manner in which that committee has worked, and will continue to work, I am sure, in the remaining term of this Assembly.
Madam Speaker, I rise to object to the principle put out by Mr Moore's amendment and to support the thrust of the original motion. About two years have elapsed since members have had to deal in this forum with the question of chairs of committees. I think members opposite will recall that we appointed particular people to chair particular committees in advance of those committees having met. May I also say that, upon the resignation of Mr De Domenico from the position of chair of the Standing Committee on Tourism and ACT Promotion and his being replaced by Mr Westende, it was understood and acknowledged that Mr Westende would replace him as chair of that committee. That is the simple fact. What we are proposing here, in my view, is a continuation of the practice of replacing one particular chair with a chair from the Independents when an Independent was chairing the committee, or a member of the Liberal Party when a Liberal Party member was chairing the committee, or the Labor Party when a Labor Party member was chairing the committee. That is simply the principle.
It is wrong for anybody to suggest that this Assembly does not have that right. It is, in fact, allowed for. I would go one step further. I believe that it is the right of this Assembly, when it so chooses, to make such an appointment. The proposition being put up is to replace a Labor chair with a Labor chair. I see nothing wrong with it. It is, in fact, what one would hope would happen if the committee did meet. One would hope that the committee would maintain the balance that was negotiated over two years ago. That is the position that I believe we should end up with at the end of this day. I believe that what Mr Berry's motion outlines is the appropriate way to proceed.
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