Page 2998 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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leadership that they have shown in developing a community-driven statement, the draft of which will be available in August this year. I thank members of the council who are attending today. I would also like to thank officers of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Service, particularly the Office for Ageing, and in particular Nonie Barz, who is here today in the gallery.
I present the following paper:
ACT draft strategic plan for positive ageing—Ministerial statement, 25 June 2009.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Dunne) adjourned to the next sitting.
Open government
Discussion of matter of public importance
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ms Burch): Mr Speaker has received letters from Ms Bresnan, Mr Coe, Mr Doszpot, Mrs Dunne, Mr Hanson, Ms Hunter, Ms Le Couteur, Ms Porter, Mr Seselja and Mr Smyth proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, Mr Speaker has determined that the matter proposed by Mrs Dunne be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
The importance of the ACT Government being open, honest and accountable in its negotiations.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (3.49): The importance of any ACT government being open, honest and accountable in its negotiations seems to be axiomatic but it seems not to be the case with the Stanhope government. In 2001 and again in 2008, ACT Labor championed in its platform:
… a contract between our party and the people of the Australian Capital Territory. It shows people what they can expect of us and sets the standards for our work.
Many of the standards go to openness, honesty and accountability. This contract between the Labor Party and the people of the Australian Capital Territory committed to the delivery of four key objectives in the machinery of government. In effect, these objectives amount to the overarching terms of the contract with the people of the ACT. Those contractual terms were responsibility, integrity, openness and quality.
In handling government finances, ACT Labor’s platform makes undertakings to the people of the ACT that it will “demonstrate a high level of commitment to accountability and scrutiny of government”. On this count, this government failed before it even started. The 2006 functional review remains secret. The 2006 functional review, which had a profound impact on the people of the ACT, remains secret.
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