Page 571 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 2018

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peppercorn rent to a variety of other groups who made use of the space. One that comes to mind is Oaks Estate. I understand that Oaks Estate has not been able to finalise any agreement with the ACT government around how their heritage-listed building should be looked after.

I should have mentioned at the beginning that since this petition has been lodged, the ACT government has seen the logic behind the petition and has emailed the Downer Community Association to say that the lease will be re-granted at a peppercorn rent, and I am very pleased about that.

Another bit of unfinished business was mentioned in the petition. The ACT government, many years ago, promised considerable renovations for Downer Square, the bicentennial square, and I would very much like to see that promise eventuate. There are now new shops in Downer, and the people of Downer would love to see the square renovated, to go with the other renovations.

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee

Report 6

MADAM SPEAKER: I present the following report:

Administration and Procedure—Standing Committee—Report 6—Models for Estimates Inquiries, dated 22 February 2018, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.

MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (10.06): I move:

That the report be noted.

As members are aware, this matter arose because of a consideration of whether we might look at the budget differently. The discussion involves two possible models. One is the current model of an estimates committee, which has been the practice since self-government in 1989, where we have a select committee that looks exclusively at it. The alternative option is one used in some other parliaments, whereby the budget would be broken up and the existing standing committees would look at their areas of expertise.

The committee has had some discussion about this. The report has obviously been a quick one. The committee has recommended that the decision on whether to establish a standing committee on estimates be made at the March sittings—in the next sitting period—and that the matter be further considered by the Assembly and, potentially, by the admin and procedure committee in the future.

The report includes two papers: one showing the practice in legislatures across Australia and New Zealand; and another which is an options paper prepared in 2010 listing six options to consider the estimates in the appropriation process.

That is the work that the committee has done to this point. I commend the documents to the Assembly for further consideration.

Question resolved in the affirmative.


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