Page 2376 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 22 June 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
It will achieve that fundamental principle that we have - that unions and managers jointly should be involved in determining a range of issues. Let us have a look at the types of issues. The Chief Minister has outlined a couple of those, but they are absolutely limitless. This provides an expedient way for a government employer to allow for discussion, debate, research and recommendations to be made on issues of broad coverage, and at times for obscure issues to be given the prominence that they require.
I can understand why the alternative spokesman on public service matters for the Opposition, Mr Kaine, has these problems, Madam Speaker. I can understand why he has these problems, for he has been used to working in the Defence model.
Mr Kaine: No, I have not. I have been working with the trade unions, including you, Mr Lamont, for five years.
MR LAMONT: Okay; maybe he did not work in the Defence model, but he was employed at Defence. Even under the old triservice structure for defence departments, there were matters which needed to be dealt with on a whole-of-service basis through the joint council process. The joint council process prescribed in the Federal Act was seen as being an appropriate mechanism to achieve outcomes on those matters. That is what this will do. It allows us the flexibility to meet a change in circumstances without a requirement to amend the Act. That, simply, is the reason why the Bill has been brought forward in this way. I thank Ms Szuty for her support to establish, as a fundamental principle of this new Act, that there shall be consultation, and that that consultation, as a minimum, shall be provided through the joint council.
Clause, as amended, agreed to.
Clause 46
MR HUMPHRIES (4.56): Madam Speaker, I have circulated an amendment to clause 46. I move:
Page 24, lines 23 and 24, subclause (3), omit the subclause, substitute the following subclause:
"(3) The Clerk shall be appointed by the Executive on the advice of the appropriate Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly and the appointment of the Clerk shall be exercised in accordance with the merit principles laid down in section 65 insofar as they relate to an appointment.".
This relates to the appointment of the Clerk of the Assembly. Madam Speaker, it is clear that there are two sorts of appointments which are possible under this legislation. One is the appointment of a person on the basis of merit. That entails a procedure to appear before a committee; the application of merit principles before that committee; the selection of the person who is best qualified to do a particular job. That is one sort of appointment made under this Bill. The other is an appointment of patronage, one where the government of the day has the right to choose a particular individual on the basis that
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .