Page 4678 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 7 December 1994
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PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURE BILL 1994
Debate resumed from 9 November 1994, on motion by Mrs Carnell:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Motion (by Ms Ellis) negatived:
That the debate be adjourned.
MADAM SPEAKER: The question before us is: That this Bill be agreed to in principle. Does anybody else wish to speak?
Mr Connolly: Can we seek leave for the Chief Minister to speak again, as she is the person on the Government side who has the carriage of the matter? It would make sense to hear the Government's view from the Chief Minister.
MADAM SPEAKER: Yes.
Leave granted.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (12.15): Madam Speaker, I have to say that I viewed the appearance of this matter on today's business paper with a great deal of concern. That concern has deepened because of the receipt only last night of the report of the Standing Committee on the Public Sector. The amendments to the legislation have been foreshadowed by the Leader of the Opposition, but they have only just come to light. In spite of the many hours of debate and discussion that we have had in this chamber and that occurred in the committee over recent months, it seems to me that the distinction between government and governance is still very poorly understood by some members of this Assembly. Governance - if members are not aware of it - is about the manner and function of governing, and it is about the systems and the institutions that underpin the way in which we go about the business of government. Sir Frank Cooper, who was a Whitehall expert, said as long ago as 1986:
These institutions and decision-making procedures "represent the litmus test of the credibility, competence and acceptability of government".
I believe that we, in this Assembly, were presented with a rare and wonderful opportunity to fashion a modern and professional public administration, one which drew on the best of tradition without being restrained by its shackles. Yet, it seems, the fundamental principles that we achieved in that process have not been recognised by the majority of the committee and, one would assume, also Mrs Carnell.
Over the past few hours we have received in this chamber the first report of the Standing Committee on the Public Sector, the subject of which is very pertinent to the matter that is under consideration. It is quite unacceptable, in my view, for this Assembly to be presented with a report which deals with both the existing legislation and the
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