Parliament (Joint Services) (Staffing) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 6 July 2017.)

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:34): This is a very simple bill, and without any further speakers on the second reading I look forward to a swift committee stage to pass this bill.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

In committee.

Clause 1.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: I recognise that the minister is handling the bill without an adviser. It is a very simple bill, and I think most of us in this house understand the changes that will be effected by the bill. The changes in classification for staff in this building or additional positions will now be done just by the JPSC and not go off to Executive Council.

In my second reading speech I mentioned my concern that in the consultation for the preparation of the bill, which was prepared on behalf of the Premier, the consultation was only to the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment. I am not quite sure what the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment has to do with the parliament, but I suppose my principal concern was that there was no consultation with the Legislative Council in its own sense and also the fact that in this current year our President is the Chairman of the JPSC, and our Clerk is the Secretary of the JPSC, and there was no consultation with either of them.

My question to the minister is: as the Leader of the Government in this chamber and an advocate for this chamber, does he share my concern, and, if so, will he do his best to make sure that in similar cases in the future the Legislative Council is treated as a house equal to the House of Assembly, as it is, and will he make sure that that message is related to those who are responsible for the drafting of the bill?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I thank the honourable member for his contribution. I note his concern, and I agree with much of what he has said. I will make sure I pass on the views of this chamber—I will not say the unanimous views of this chamber but the views of this chamber that have not been argued with by anyone. I will pass those on to those driving this bill, but more generally when these sorts of matters come up I will pass that on.

Clause passed.

Remaining clauses (2 to 7) and titled passed.

Bill reported without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:40): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.