Page 1815 - Week 06 - Thursday, 5 June 2014

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We know that there is a lot of work to be done to make vulnerable road users feel safer in the ACT and to improve the number of people utilising sustainable transport options. I look forward to working through the details of the committee’s report to identify the practical steps that can now be implemented.

We have an international expert from San Francisco in Canberra today. I have just hosted a breakfast gathering with him this morning. A number of TAMS officials attended, along with staff from other ministers’ offices. It is quite inspiring to hear what can be done to make it safer for vulnerable road users for a relatively little amount of money, where there is a commitment by government and its agencies to really get down and focus on things that make a practical difference.

I would like to thank Tim Papandreou for taking the time to both come to Canberra and share his expertise with us. He turns out to be here on an auspicious day, as we contemplate this committee’s report as well. I think there is a great opportunity to do a lot of things that will make a significant difference for vulnerable road users in the coming years, and I thank the committee for their work.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee

Report 3

MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (10.16): Pursuant to the order of the Assembly, I present the following report:

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee—Report 3—Lobbyist Regulation, dated 3 June 2014, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.

I move:

That the report be noted.

I will not speak too much to the report. It is quite detailed and I urge all members to read it thoroughly. I just want to commend Stephen Skehill for his expert advice during the inquiry and also commend the committee for its work.

MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (10.17): It is quite detailed and Mr Skehill has given some solid advice there on what is required. From my perspective, the committee seemed to be doing this because everybody else had done it, rather than that there was an overwhelming need for it. Indeed, the ministers and former ministers in the room during the discussion could hardly recall occasions where this would come into force, and I am always very cautious about doing things because every other jurisdiction has done it.

With that, the report is there. Members need to read it. It will have some impact on some officers, and I would suggest, people, when we get to the discussion, if we are only doing it because other people have done it, then we really need to question the need for this.


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