Page 1183 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 May 2006
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DR FOSKEY: Yes. That concerns me because we already know that there is a lot of community disquiet about this budget. The non-government members of the Assembly have a duty to the communities that we represent to have a strong voice in scrutinising the budget and reporting to the Assembly and, through the Assembly, to the community. Even though my opposition is, for reason of numbers, merely rhetorical, it is a strongly thought out opposition. No matter what the composition, I will play as strong a role on the committee as is possible.
For more than two days we have seen the government prevaricating—I believe that is the proper word—over passing on to the community, through us, the contents of the Costello report. That causes me concern about the level of the transparency that we are going to see in future discussions about the budget. I do not really see how having a committee of six is going to help. It was difficult enough last year for the five members to get through all their questioning. Asking the questions is one thing; getting the answers is quite another. It concerns me that there will be one more person to ask what really amount to dorothy dixers, tying up valuable time that could be spent really putting the budget under scrutiny.
I will oppose the amendment. I certainly would have supported Mr Smyth’s original motion.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Industrial Relations) (11.06): I will be supporting the amendment. Dr Foskey’s point about it being essentially a numbers game here belies the role that all members should be able to play in the estimates process.
Government members have a legitimate role in the estimates process as well. Mr Corbell’s amendment does not detract from representation by the Liberal Party and the Greens. In fact, the addition of another member enhances the committee. There is a lot of work done in the estimates process and I think it is important that as many members as possible participate. All non-executive members have a role in keeping the executive accountable. That is an important function that they should play in this debate.
If the Liberals and the Greens believe that the only way they can keep the government accountable is by combining in some sort of numbers game on that committee, that belies the real process of that committee, which is around detailed questioning over a period of weeks. Getting particular resolutions or recommendations up should not be a numbers game. Come along, ask the questions and participate. Government members want to do that, and I think it should be encouraged.
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra) (11.07): This is a pathetic amendment. I listened to Mr Barr’s comments. If he wanted to take that argument to its logical conclusion, every single non-executive member should be on the estimates committee. I think that maybe—
Mr Barr: Well, they all turn up, Bill.
Dr Foskey: They will be.
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