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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1724 ..

Clauses 1 to 13, by leave, taken together, and agreed to.

Clause 14

MR WHITECROSS (Leader of the Opposition) (5.15): I move:

Page 8, lines 28 to 30, omit the subclause, substitute the following subclause:

"(4) Where the Executive gives a direction under subsection (1), the Treasurer shall cause -

(a) a copy of the direction; and

(b) a statement of the reasons for giving it;

to be laid before the Legislative Assembly within 3 sitting days after the direction is given.".

My amendment simply amends clause 14 to ensure that, when a copy of a direction is tabled before the Assembly in relation to transferring money from one appropriation to another appropriation, a statement of reasons for making the change is also tabled. Mr Speaker, the reason for doing that is to mirror a similar provision in clause 15 which deals with transfers within an appropriation. The Government indicated in their response to the Estimates Committee that they believe that transfers between appropriations can be made when they change their mind about priorities. It is appropriate that there be a statement of reasons. As a matter of practice, I am sure that the Government always intended to provide a statement of reasons. I understand from the Government that they do not have a problem with this amendment.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (5.16): I thank Mr Whitecross for picking up what I think was a drafting error and for improving the Bill.

MR MOORE (5.17): I think one of the things illustrated by the Government's willingness to accept this amendment proposed by the Opposition is the advantage of having this sort of legislation put before the Assembly and considered in this way. It illustrates what I was saying earlier, Mr Speaker, about the work of the Assembly as a whole in seeking to ensure the openness of such accounts and such issues so that the community is aware of what is going on with its money.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

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