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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 3465 ..
MS DUNDAS (4.59): The ACT Democrats believe that in principle this is a good bill, as it tries to address some of the many concerns raised about the operation of the act. Public access to government contracts is a worthwhile endeavour. Government departments, the legislature and the Auditor-General need to work together to make sure that the principles of accountability that were brought into law in the ACT are maintained.
My colleague Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans introduced similar legislation into the New South Wales Legislative Council that was passed in September and now awaits debate in the lower house.
The Democrats were born on a catchcry of keeping the bastards honest. That has meant bringing accountability to the legislators as well as the civil service. There is still much to be done.
At 5.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
MS DUNDAS: This bill is a step in the right direction. However, I am seeking to amend it to add a level of responsibility to chief executive officers of departments, to ensure that the good intention of this legislation is complied with, as opposed to again just setting up a structure that is then ignored. We need to ensure that responsibility is taken for allowing public access to government contracts. I will speak further to my amendment in the detail stage.
MR QUINLAN (Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Business and Tourism, Minister for Sport, Racing and Gaming and Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Corrections) (5.01), in reply: I thank members for their support for this bill. I think its intentions are fairly straightforward. It is one of those little pleasures of coming from opposition to government to follow through something that you were involved in before the event.
I commend the bill to the house in its unaltered state. I will talk to the amendments in the detail stage.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail stage
Clauses 1 to 3, by leave, taken together and agreed to.Clause 4.
MS TUCKER (5.02): I move amendment No 1 circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 3485].
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