Page 2805 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016

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In addition to the interesting papers and jurisdiction reports presented, we were also fortunate to hear from the international observers from Nepal and Fiji. In their presentations the Fijian delegates provided background, information and commentary on the current situation in Fiji since the re-establishment of the parliament in 2014.

During the conference I gave an ACT jurisdiction round-up. A copy of my presentation can be obtained from the secretariat. Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank all those who have contributed to the work of the scrutiny committee of this Eighth Assembly. Thank you to the current members: Mr Hinder, Ms Burch and Mrs Jones; and also to the former committee members: Mr Hanson, Ms Porter, Mr Gentleman, Dr Bourke and Ms Berry. Your efforts have ensured that the committee has operated in the best traditions of non-partisan technical scrutiny of legislation.

Thanks are also extended to those from the Office of the Legislative Assembly who have supported the committee—its secretary, Max Kiermaier and its assistant secretary, Anne Shannon, and to Janice Rafferty, Joanne Cullen and Celeste Italiano who, at various times, have acted as secretary or assistant secretary.

Of course, the committee is very grateful to have its eminent and hardworking legal advisers, Peter Bayne for bills and Stephen Argument for subordinate legislation. It is through all of their efforts that the committee has been able to produce 48 reports examining 224 bills, 1,385 items of subordinate legislation, 136 responses, nine regulatory impact statements and amendments to 14 government bills over the past four years, often to very tight and perhaps unrealistic deadlines.

On behalf of the members of the scrutiny committee, I wish to thank all officers of the Legislative Assembly staff who have provided such valuable contributions to our scrutiny committee and to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Public Accounts—Standing Committee

Statements by chair

MS LAWDER (Brindabella): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make statements on behalf of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. The first relates to inquiries about certain Auditor-General’s reports currently before the committee and other matters. It is an established practice in many Westminster parliaments, including the United Kingdom, for committees to table a legacy report at the close of a parliamentary session or term.

This practice provides committees with an opportunity to: look back on their work; outline some of their work, progress and effectiveness during the course of a parliament; set out areas that may be of interest to successor committees; set out some headline figures reflecting the more tangible elements of the work of the committee; and scrutinise what actions the government has taken with regard to issues and recommendations raised in committee reports.


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