Page 4787 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 14 December 2005
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The independent auditor feels there is a gap in accountability, and that is what this bill seeks to close today. It is the belief of the auditor that members should feel obliged to correct the gap, which this bill will do.
It is a simple bill, another masterful piece of drafting from the parliamentary counsel’s office that ensures that, if an agency operates for any part of the financial year, they must provide a report. Where an abolished agency has not made arrangements to prepare a report, the responsibility for preparing the unit’s annual report rests with the chief executive of the administrative unit responsible for administering the act. At the moment that means the chief executive of the Chief Minister’s Department would carry that responsibility.
Before I commend the bill to the Assembly, I point out that in the 2004-05 year the Office of Special Adviser cost the ratepayers of the ACT $253,511. What did we get for that money? Perhaps the Chief Minister could enlighten us when he responds. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Quinlan) adjourned to the next sitting.
Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) (Random Drug Testing) Amendment Bill 2005
Mr Pratt, pursuant to notice, presented the bill.
Mr Stanhope: I just want some clarification. Short title: the redneck bill.
Title read by Acting Clerk.
MR PRATT (Brindabella) (10.40): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I will ignore the Chief Minister’s comments about this being a supposedly redneck bill, but let the record show that that is what the Chief Minister thinks of any decent safety measure that might be put in place. Let us have the record show that that is how the Chief Minister views sensible bills in this place.
MR SPEAKER: Order! You need to come to your bill.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, everybody! Interjections are disorderly and there is no point in responding to them because that is equally disorderly, Mr Pratt. Come to the matter that is before the chamber.
MR PRATT: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am sure the community will treat with disdain that comment by the Chief Minister.
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