Page 282 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2010
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Motion agreed to.
Committees—process
Debate resumed from 10 December 2009, on motion by Mrs Dunne:
That this Assembly:
(1) re-affirms the importance of the Assembly committee process and its role in:
(a) providing the Assembly, as a unicameral system of parliament, with the kinds of checks and balances not otherwise available;
(b) preserving and promoting the value of transparency and accountability in the assessment of government decision-making, policy development and legislative processes;
(c) giving constituents “a say” in government decision-making, policy development and legislative processes; and
(d) providing Members of the Assembly with opportunities to engage in in-depth analysis and examination of and seek expert advice about government decisions, policies and legislation; and
(2) unconditionally supports the right of Assembly committees to:
(a) have unfettered access to documents and witnesses relevant to matters being considered;
(b) call for and consider public submissions;
(c) report on their findings and recommendations without fear or favour; and
(d) be entitled to respectful responses from government.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (10:42): I welcome the opportunity created by this motion to reflect upon and reinforce the importance of Assembly committees for the operation of the system of government in the ACT. I similarly welcome the opportunity to continue a conversation in this chamber about the importance of the checks and balances inherent in our system of government.
As I and other members of the government have said on previous occasions, the government recognises and values the important role played by the Assembly and its committees in scrutinising the actions of the executive, and the proper role played by members in pursuing lines of questioning with ministers. The holding of government and ministers to account by the legislature from which they have been drawn has been and remains a crucial element of the success of Australian democracy.
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