Ms MARTIN - 1999-11-24
In 1997, the government instituted a policy of outsourcing legal services rather than utilising the services provided in-house by the Attorney-General’s Department. Can the Chief Minister explain to Territorians where the value for money is when the Attorney-General’s Department’s actual outlays of legal services doubled in 1998-99 from a budget of $5.1m to $10.2m?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I’ve spoken on many occasions in this House of the fact that the way the Northern Territory has grown historically has created in my mind an overburdening of the public sector as opposed to the private sector. Certainly in areas such as diversifying our economy and growing the private sector, where possible that is a thrust of this government and a thrust that we continue to pursue.
With regard to legal services and the cost of outsourcing, I would certainly check with the department on the figures that the Leader of the Opposition raises. It is the experience of this side of the House that the opposition tends to jump up, run off some emotive figures and on checking we find there is no substance.
To my mind, as the Attorney-General, the aim of outsourcing in the Attorney-General’s Department is working extremely well. I’m sure other ministers will vouch for the quality of legal advice that we get from the various legal organisations in Darwin, throughout the Territory and in other parts of Australia. We believe is the best legal advice that we can obtain. Also in many respects that legal advice is compared at times to the in-house legal advice that continues to be available through the Attorney-General’s Department, which gives us a double-check, if you like, on some of this advice.
Territorians would understand that we seek outside legal advice on very serious matters that affect government and cost to government on a whole range of matters, and therefore it is only responsible that we pursue as many avenues as possible to obtain that advice. I suggest that the legal profession per se are entirely happy with the arrangement because it is leading to a more robust and more professional and far more experienced legal sector in the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I’ve spoken on many occasions in this House of the fact that the way the Northern Territory has grown historically has created in my mind an overburdening of the public sector as opposed to the private sector. Certainly in areas such as diversifying our economy and growing the private sector, where possible that is a thrust of this government and a thrust that we continue to pursue.
With regard to legal services and the cost of outsourcing, I would certainly check with the department on the figures that the Leader of the Opposition raises. It is the experience of this side of the House that the opposition tends to jump up, run off some emotive figures and on checking we find there is no substance.
To my mind, as the Attorney-General, the aim of outsourcing in the Attorney-General’s Department is working extremely well. I’m sure other ministers will vouch for the quality of legal advice that we get from the various legal organisations in Darwin, throughout the Territory and in other parts of Australia. We believe is the best legal advice that we can obtain. Also in many respects that legal advice is compared at times to the in-house legal advice that continues to be available through the Attorney-General’s Department, which gives us a double-check, if you like, on some of this advice.
Territorians would understand that we seek outside legal advice on very serious matters that affect government and cost to government on a whole range of matters, and therefore it is only responsible that we pursue as many avenues as possible to obtain that advice. I suggest that the legal profession per se are entirely happy with the arrangement because it is leading to a more robust and more professional and far more experienced legal sector in the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016