Page 2633 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 23 June 2009
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The committee system, used appropriately, is a very important part of the process. For a unicameral house, it is a very important opportunity for all members to come together, put aside their party leanings and attempt to come to a consensus position where we can move forward on those things that we agree on. It used to work a lot better before majority government. I think the system is improving. I look forward to those improvements in the coming years and under your stewardship, Mr Speaker.
I note that in paragraph 2.2 of the report there is reference to bike racks. Some promises were made in the committee that bike racks would appear, and they have magically appeared, so well done on that score.
That being said, Mr Speaker, this is largely uncontroversial, again except for the government’s position that they deserve more.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (10.19): The Greens support the inclusion of the appropriation for the Legislative Assembly in the budget. We welcome the move of the very efficient ACT government library from Territory and Municipal Services to the Secretariat. This was one of the items in the Labor-Greens agreement and it also fits within the Latimer House principles in that the Assembly should control its own resources.
It is noted from estimates evidence that there are some financial details still to be determined, associated with the transfer of staffing resources—in particular, the need to upgrade the head librarian position, the future growth of the library collection and possible future expansion. We would expect that the finalisation of these issues would be accommodated within the proposed allocation or the resources presently allocated to Territory and Municipal Services and not be part of further funding requests.
There is work in relation to the upgrade of lift components and the installation of a new chiller to replace the ageing system. From our relatively short time in this place, we have seen that these upgrades would improve conditions and access for staff, visitors and members and fit in with the overall aim of last year’s building audit to move the building to a more energy efficient footing.
We have no issue, and we support this line item.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10.20): Mr Speaker, I was surprised to hear Mr Smyth criticising the government for its refusal, apparently, to provide further resources to the Assembly. First of all, that is simply not the case. The government has provided additional resources to the Assembly—and, indeed, did so in some earlier appropriations shortly after the election. I might leave the Treasurer to outline those further, should she wish.
But I want to draw members’ attention to the real contradiction and hypocrisy that we hear from the Liberal Party on these matters. Here we have Mr Smyth criticising the government for refusing to support additional resources for the Assembly. But what
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