Page 3763 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 27 August 2008
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officers, that is, the CEO of TAMS and, of course, the Clerk of the Assembly. That is to go to the actual resources.
For example, who owns the materials? Where do we source them from? Who owns the staff? Are the staff better placed as Assembly staff members or staff members seconded from the library service? What professional development will they get? What access will they have to professional development? All of those things are mechanical. None of those are adequately addressed in the report, to my mind.
When it comes to actually providing reports et cetera to the Assembly, I do not have a difficulty. If we have got a report and we have accepted the recommendations and propose to act on them, I do not have a difficulty in sharing that. But where I have a difficulty is that where that report is actually regarded by me as a working document to inform cabinet and is part of the cabinet process, then I cannot and I do not have the authority to release it, let alone table it here if it is cabinet-in-confidence.
MR SPEAKER: Is there a supplementary question?
DR FOSKEY: Could the minister, in the absence of the report, tell us more about what is in that report and what follow-up the government will undertake regarding the report’s recommendations?
MR HARGREAVES: As I have indicated, I regard the report as informing a further paper to cabinet. It is not my habit, nor do I believe it was the habit of any minister who has gone before me, to discuss, on the floor of the Assembly, matters which are going to be put before cabinet. We usually discuss matters that have come out of cabinet. So the short answer, Dr Foskey, is, regrettably, no.
Gungahlin Drive extension
MR PRATT: My question is to the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services. Minister, yesterday you said this in relation to the duplication of Caswell Drive:
We had anticipated that we would have to do that about 12 months, or maybe even a little bit more, after the road was opened.
You admitted the work would need to be initiated in as little as 12 months after completion. Minister, why didn’t you build Caswell Drive correctly to begin with, therefore saving ACT taxpayers money and reducing the inconvenience to motorists?
MR HARGREAVES: I thank Mr Pratt for his second-last question in his political career. Mr Speaker, it would be irresponsible of anybody to commit the government to expenditure without having the justification to do so.
Mr Pratt: You can ask it, mate.
MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, if Mr Pratt wants to hear the answer, all he has to do is keep quiet.
MR SPEAKER: Silence, Mr Pratt, please.
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