Page 2664 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
I want to make it quite clear that we have been out there. The Greens have been out there, quite clearly, making public statements and putting statements on the record last week about our concern about, our reaction to, the Chief Minister’s public comments on the release of the ambulance services report—that that was unwarranted. We are concerned about those sorts of statements. We certainly came out on the record to say that we should not be shooting the messenger.
This office plays an incredibly important role that we support. That is why we will be making sure that that office gets an appropriation, gets its funding, for the next financial year, while taking on board the issues raised by the Auditor-General around the increased workload and the importance of being able to maintain the number of audits throughout the year.
I thought it was quite important to stand and put that on record—that we do absolutely support the Auditor-General. We do think this is an issue.
One of the other speakers this morning raised an idea that in some other jurisdictions the way that the funding is delivered to the Auditor-General is not necessarily through the executive but through some other independent type of process or mechanism that provides that sort of distance from the executive of government. We certainly are interested in having a conversation and exploring these sorts of ideas, but we need to be very clear that this would be a large change if it were to happen—that we do need to investigate it properly; ensure that we involve all those who would be impacted, and stakeholders; take on board advice; and take the time to properly study how it might work in other jurisdictions, whether it be in Australia or elsewhere.
Once again, in support for the Auditor-General’s Office, we will be voting for this line item in the appropriation bill, noting that there are some major workload issues that are happening for the Auditor-General.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (12.07): Mr Speaker, I am conscious that you are about to put the question on this part. I would like to seek leave of the Assembly to permit a call of the Assembly to be undertaken on this.
Leave not granted.
Standing and temporary orders—suspension
MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, I move:
That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended so as to require a vote of the Assembly to be taken on the question—That the proposed expenditure be agreed to.
Mr Speaker, what we have heard from the Liberal opposition in this place this morning is a strong and continued assertion that there is a need for improved funding
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .