Page 4038 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007
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I would suggest, Mr Speaker, that part of the problem is that you have got so many small organisations that are competing for the same funding dollar. Also, by having all those organisations out there, it becomes confusing as to who people are supposed to turn to. That was something that the committee did hear.
In her final comments Dr Foskey said:
I believe that the committee consulted widely and did much investigation, but did all that it learnt end up in that report or did the government have any say about its content? I know committee members were deeply interested and concerned but the committee does have a government majority.
Mr Speaker, that is a reflection on the committee’s deliberations and is actually quite offensive. The committee did not actually consult with the government on this issue; we consulted with community groups over a lengthy period of time. I can say that I do not recall seeing Dr Foskey in the public hearings on this issue. She was not actually a part of the long deliberations that went on with this report. I welcome the other comments that Dr Foskey has made, but she should be more careful in the things that she says on a report which she has not been involved with, the investigation into which extended over a lengthy time.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Health and Disability––Standing Committee
Report 4—government response
Debate resumed from 22 November 2007, on motion by Ms MacDonald:
That the report be noted.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee
Reference
Debate resumed from 27 September 2007, on motion by Mr Smyth:
That standing order 156 be referred to the Standing Committee on Administration and Procedure for inquiry and report, with specific reference to whether Members who receive benefits from poker machine revenue should be able to participate in debate on matters pertaining to gambling and associated subjects.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (11.36): In the two minutes remaining to me from the debate on 27 September I will just restate the case. We have a standing order here—standing order 156—which establishes the principle of the conflict of interest in the Assembly context. It relates to any direct or indirect interest in a contract between the territory and an external organisation. Ambiguity arises with the ACT Labor government making decisions on licences to operate poker machines. These contracts,
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