PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT (CONSEQUENTIAL) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 26 November 2008. Page 1144.)

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:47): It is my pleasure to make what will be a somewhat brief contribution today. This bill flows on from the quite extensive debate on the Public Sector Bill which occurred two days ago in the house and which set the scene for some significant changes for the public sector of South Australia in which a group of some 79,000 full-time equivalent (or nearly 98,000 persons) are employed.

In reviewing the Public Sector Management Act 1995, and attendant amendments, as it relates to this consequential amendment bill, I understand that it will leave only sections of the act that relate to the corporate agency members, the advisory body members, the senior officials, the corporate agency executives and the employees and persons who are performing contract work for the Public Service and as it relates to the honesty and accountability provisions of those roles.

I must admit that there are a vast number of significant amendments in regard to renaming provisions of parts and sections, which relate to the bill that has been in place for some time, so it is certainly not necessary to debate any of those clauses. The proposed amendments that have an impact are clauses 33 and 34. Clause 33 is the proceeding for offences, and clause 34 relates to regulations that may be established for the purpose of this act.

In reviewing those two clauses, it is somewhat difficult to think of any really detailed questions because of the great debate on this matter two days ago. However, I have a question for the minister, and he may be prepared to make some minor comment, although I could ask it at the committee stage.

I note that proceedings may not be brought for an offence under this act, except with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. I would be interested in some examples of how that may be stimulated and who brings it to the attention of the DPP before action is taken. Other than those brief comments, I confirm that the opposition is supportive of the bill because it is a flow-down bill as a result of the debate that occurred on the Public Sector Bill. While it is possible that some discussion may take place on this bill in another place when both bills are reviewed in the Legislative Council, at this stage, the opposition just wishes to commit to the fact that it supports the bill as presented.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (15:50): I thank the honourable member for his support of the bill. His question, as I understood it, was how matters of the sort that are contemplated as offences will find their way to the DPP. I would imagine in the ordinary way; that is, either through the police or some other report to an agency that then prepares a brief for the purposes of prosecution by the DPP. It is not contemplated that there be any different process.

Bill read a second time and taken through its remaining stages.