Page 1316 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 11 April 2018
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Whilst we have many differences of opinions in this place, and this is the place for differences of opinions, fair and honest behaviour by all members is important. As parliamentarians we are not just advocates for certain views, activists for certain causes or, in the case of cabinet members, the executive of the ACT government. We are also the custodians of democracy and the caretakers of this institution, the Legislative Assembly for the ACT.
As custodians of democracy and caretakers of the Legislative Assembly, we must at all times act to protect its reputation in the community, protect it not by cover-up or pompous declaration, but protect it by transparency in our procedure and, most of all, by ensuring that members do not abuse their position to misrepresent this place or its procedures.
My motion today aims to do exactly that. On the surface of it, there appears to have been some peculiar goings on. The correct response should be to set up a select committee with the appropriate powers to investigate with sufficient time to consider the matter and with a view to ensuring that the integrity of the Assembly is not just a theory but a transparent fact.
As there has not been a privileges committee established in the Assembly for some time, I think it is important that we remind ourselves that this procedure is not a punishment but a process of investigation. Where there are potentially peculiar goings on, the right thing to do by the Assembly is to investigate. The right thing to do by Mr Coe, Miss C Burch and Ms Lee is for a privileges committee to give them a fair hearing.
The ability of a privileges committee to call for evidence, as well as question witnesses, means that it can resolve whether there has been a contempt of the Assembly or its committees. It will report to the Assembly on any disciplinary action to be taken. It is the most appropriate process of investigation. I sincerely hope that the behaviour that I raise today, which looks like a contempt of the Assembly, proves to be entirely innocent.
For the benefit of all members, I will quickly walk you through the behaviour I am referring to. On 15 February this year, the Assembly granted leave to Mr Coe to present two out of order petitions on the subject of rates and land tax determinations for apartments. The Assembly then resolved to refer the matter to the public accounts committee for consideration.
Whilst, as a member of the PAC, I am in possession of certain information about the process of its work, I do not intend to reflect on the deliberations or process that that committee has undertaken, as per the standing orders. My motion today is not informed by my membership of that committee but is being advanced as a concerned member of the Assembly.
At a time before the establishment of the inquiry into the methodology for determining rates and land tax for strata residences, the Liberal Party of Australia, ACT division, established a website called haveyoursay.net.au. This website has
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