Mr REED - 2002-08-14
Next week, the Treasurer will bring down the first full budget of her government. However, none of us know how this parliament is going to be able to debate and examine that budget. Can the Treasurer give us the full detail as to when and how the process that she proposes to use will allow all members of this parliament to, on behalf of all Territorians, examine that budget?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. As we committed to in the run-up to the election, there will be an Estimates Committee process in place to undertake the examination we have previously here year after year as the Committee of the Whole. We are catching up with every other state and territory by putting in place that Estimates Committee process. I have an assurance from the Leader of Government Business, who has carriage of the Estimates Committee proposal, that you will be fully briefed. We will be making time, you will be fully briefed. I am sure that you will embrace this new process enthusiastically. It certainly provides the same opportunities that every other parliamentarian around Australia has to examine a budget in detail.
We are very proud of the budget that will be brought down next week and look forward to the estimates process so that we can talk in detail with the community, with members of this House, about the important initiatives that we are funding in the budget. I can say with great confidence to the opposition - and thank you for the question, member for Katherine - that you will be briefed.
It is interesting, for year after year, we were in here saying: ‘Bring in an Estimates Committee process’. It fell on deaf ears, absolutely deaf ears. It is interesting that finally the estimates …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister and Treasurer has demonstrated and indicated quite clearly that she is going to introduce a new system. It is no good pointing to what the historical circumstances were or are. In terms of the Leader of Government Business, the Chief Minister has indicated that he knows what the process is. Why, then, can’t Territorians be advised of it now?
Madam SPEAKER: There is actually no point of order, but Treasurer, you know you should be getting to the answer.
Ms MARTIN: There will be a motion establishing an Estimates Committee debated next week. The Estimates Committee takes place in September. Let me make the point.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Can we put some clarity into what is being discussed here? We have an opposition who never wanted an Estimates Committee, who have not been asking us about the process, and are standing up here now saying: ‘Tell us more about it’. We will tell you about it. You will be properly briefed on it, and we will discuss it here next week. I do not think we have had any requests at this stage. We have had a request? We have had one request, one request…
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This parliament spent $10 000 or more sending members of this parliament to Tasmania to investigate their system. The Public Accounts Committee, on behalf of this parliament, reported back. Indeed, I think the government bench members of that committee reported that they supported the Tasmanian system. Yet we are still not going to get any information in relation to it. I think Territorians are owed an explanation as to what the processes will be.
Mr Stirling: Yes, we will make time tomorrow. We will give you time tomorrow.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of Government Business, order! Let me say that you know that there is no way I can tell ministers how to answer questions, you know they have flexibility. I think your comment is fair. Treasurer, complete the answer to the question.
Ms MARTIN: Very simply, Madam Speaker, we will have a motion in here next week. The Estimates Committee process will be in the September sittings. I welcome the change of heart from the opposition who would not touch an Estimates Committee year after year after year, but finally they think it is a good idea. So, this is great, bipartisan support. You will be briefed tomorrow, member for Katherine, and the motion will be in the parliament next week.
Mr Reed: Well, we’ve got a little bit of something out of you. It’s like pulling teeth.
Ms MARTIN: You could have phoned.
Mr Reed: I did! I couldn’t get an answer.
Mr Stirling: And your concerns have been taken into consideration.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you! I do remind members, my office had phone calls from members of the public who were rather concerned that they could not hear Question Time yesterday. I hope we do not have a repeat today.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I welcome the question. As we committed to in the run-up to the election, there will be an Estimates Committee process in place to undertake the examination we have previously here year after year as the Committee of the Whole. We are catching up with every other state and territory by putting in place that Estimates Committee process. I have an assurance from the Leader of Government Business, who has carriage of the Estimates Committee proposal, that you will be fully briefed. We will be making time, you will be fully briefed. I am sure that you will embrace this new process enthusiastically. It certainly provides the same opportunities that every other parliamentarian around Australia has to examine a budget in detail.
We are very proud of the budget that will be brought down next week and look forward to the estimates process so that we can talk in detail with the community, with members of this House, about the important initiatives that we are funding in the budget. I can say with great confidence to the opposition - and thank you for the question, member for Katherine - that you will be briefed.
It is interesting, for year after year, we were in here saying: ‘Bring in an Estimates Committee process’. It fell on deaf ears, absolutely deaf ears. It is interesting that finally the estimates …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister and Treasurer has demonstrated and indicated quite clearly that she is going to introduce a new system. It is no good pointing to what the historical circumstances were or are. In terms of the Leader of Government Business, the Chief Minister has indicated that he knows what the process is. Why, then, can’t Territorians be advised of it now?
Madam SPEAKER: There is actually no point of order, but Treasurer, you know you should be getting to the answer.
Ms MARTIN: There will be a motion establishing an Estimates Committee debated next week. The Estimates Committee takes place in September. Let me make the point.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: Can we put some clarity into what is being discussed here? We have an opposition who never wanted an Estimates Committee, who have not been asking us about the process, and are standing up here now saying: ‘Tell us more about it’. We will tell you about it. You will be properly briefed on it, and we will discuss it here next week. I do not think we have had any requests at this stage. We have had a request? We have had one request, one request…
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This parliament spent $10 000 or more sending members of this parliament to Tasmania to investigate their system. The Public Accounts Committee, on behalf of this parliament, reported back. Indeed, I think the government bench members of that committee reported that they supported the Tasmanian system. Yet we are still not going to get any information in relation to it. I think Territorians are owed an explanation as to what the processes will be.
Mr Stirling: Yes, we will make time tomorrow. We will give you time tomorrow.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of Government Business, order! Let me say that you know that there is no way I can tell ministers how to answer questions, you know they have flexibility. I think your comment is fair. Treasurer, complete the answer to the question.
Ms MARTIN: Very simply, Madam Speaker, we will have a motion in here next week. The Estimates Committee process will be in the September sittings. I welcome the change of heart from the opposition who would not touch an Estimates Committee year after year after year, but finally they think it is a good idea. So, this is great, bipartisan support. You will be briefed tomorrow, member for Katherine, and the motion will be in the parliament next week.
Mr Reed: Well, we’ve got a little bit of something out of you. It’s like pulling teeth.
Ms MARTIN: You could have phoned.
Mr Reed: I did! I couldn’t get an answer.
Mr Stirling: And your concerns have been taken into consideration.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you! I do remind members, my office had phone calls from members of the public who were rather concerned that they could not hear Question Time yesterday. I hope we do not have a repeat today.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016