Page 601 - Week 02 - Thursday, 14 February 2013
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which they later report. Under the framework it is possible to amend these criteria in certain circumstances. The most common example of this is when agencies amend their criteria as a result of changes to administrative arrangements.
As indicated, prior to the introduction of this bill only the responsible minister was required to approve those amendments to the performance criteria. But given the importance of ensuring the process is robust and an amendment instrument complies with the policy requirements, the bill will amend the FMA 1996 to include the Treasurer in that process.
The bill works in conjunction—I think this is important for the shadow treasurer to note—with comprehensive guidelines that have been issued by the Chief Minister and the Treasury Directorate. These guidelines provide agencies with the necessary information to undertake amendments to performance criteria in the correct manner and, appropriately, to complete the section 19D instruments. The amendment to the Financial Management Act to include the Treasurer in subsection (2) means the notifiable instrument under section 19D(5) is only made if signed by both the responsible minister and the Treasurer. Further changes have been made to section 19D(3) as a consequence of the change to subsection (2).
The government remains committed to continuing to improve the territory’s financial frameworks and this amendment to the FMA continues the government’s strong focus on ensuring the territory has robust financial frameworks. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
Sitting suspended from 12.21 to 2.30 pm.
Questions without notice
Health—Preventative Health Taskforce
MR HANSON: My question is to the health minister. On 28 November 2012 you stated in the Assembly, in regard to a preventative health taskforce, “The task force is already in place.” Minister, can you please detail when the task force was established and who the members of the task force are?
MS GALLAGHER: I will have to come back to you on the date when the group was established. I asked that it be established post the release of the Chief Health Officer’s report, which had shown some continuing disturbing trends in relation to chronic disease across the community. I asked that we get an across-government task force together that also included membership from outside government. The one name that
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