Page 1105 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2012
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two years, while another section states that the public text of a contract only needs to be accessible until the contract ends. The bill corrects this inconsistency in favour of openness and transparency. It clarifies that the public text of notifiable contracts will be publicly accessible for at least two years after the contract ends.
Although these are three small adjustments to the procurement act, they will contribute to a more efficient and transparent government. They provide for a reduction in red tape, provide for greater administrative transparency and contribute to greater openness and transparency around public contracts.
I thank members for their support of the bill.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Sub judice rule
Question by minister
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development): Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence to ask you a question in relation to the application of continuing resolution 10.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Corbell.
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Yesterday in debate on the question of the motion put forward by Ms Porter around the Pace egg farm a number of comments were made by Mr Seselja and also by Mr Hanson that referred to a matter that is currently before the ACT Magistrates Court and has been remitted to the ACT Supreme Court for sentence. That was in relation to the matters that are currently before the court in relation to charges for damaging commonwealth property at the CSIRO research facility in north Canberra. I rise to seek your guidance, Mr Speaker—and it may be a question that you will need to take some advice on—in relation to the comments made by Mr Seselja and Mr Hanson and the application of the sub judice rule.
Mr Speaker, I draw to your attention that continuing resolution 10 of the Assembly requires that cases in which proceedings are active in the court shall not be referred to in any motion, debate or question. It goes on to clarify that criminal proceedings are active when a charge has been made or a summons to appear has been issued, and that criminal proceedings cease to be active when they are concluded by verdict and sentence or discontinuance. It then goes on to talk about other unrelated matters.
Mr Speaker, this is currently still before courts in the territory. It is a matter which I understand is subject to a sentencing decision yet to be made by the ACT Magistrates
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