Statutes Amendment (Parliament - Executive Officer and Clerks) Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 31 October 2024.)

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (16:52): I rise very briefly to indicate support for the Statutes Amendment (Parliament—Executive Officer and Clerks) Bill 2024, noting that I have a bill that covers some of the same territory on the Notice Paper at present. This bill ensures changes that will ensure that an executive officer is the central person with responsibility for a range of functions currently divided between various other officers, including the clerks of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly in this parliament and chief officers of the divisions of the Joint Parliamentary Service.

The executive officer is to be appointed by the committee on terms and conditions determined by the committee, including the executive officer's remuneration. In addition to that, the Remuneration Tribunal will, going forward, play more of a role in the setting of salaries of the clerks. I have a page of circulated amendments, two main features of which I will speak to as I move them but will outline right now.

One is to ensure that the purpose of the Joint Parliamentary Service is to provide support and facilities to members of parliament in undertaking their parliamentary duties; and the second is for a review of this particular piece of legislation, which is a really welcome reform, one of many that have been occurring in previous years, the most obvious coming out of the EO commissioner's report for a People and Culture Unit for this parliamentary workplace. Having an executive officer also gives opportunity for the parliamentary workplace to continue to be modernised.

My proposal is that 10 months after appointment that executive officer will provide a report. Originally, I had in my amendments that the minister would then provide a response to that report. I understand, in negotiations with the government, they are supportive of the approach but they would prefer that the presiding members respond to that report, still within the same timeframes. I think it is a reasonable compromise. With that, I commend the bill and I commend the Greens' amendments but note that I have worked with government and that there is a government amendment to the Greens' amendment that is amenable to the Greens.

The Hon. S.L. GAME (16:55): I rise to speak very briefly on the Statutes Amendment (Parliament—Executive Officer and Clerks) Bill. This bill aims to secure some independent consideration oversight of remuneration levels for parliamentary clerks and deputy clerks and to ensure transparency in this process by establishing a new executive officer position and by essentially making remuneration decisions more independent. The changes proposed in this bill are fair and realistic and I will be supporting the bill.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (16:55): I thank all honourable members who have made contributions during the second reading debate of this bill that proposes some sensible reform about how we operate in this place. I look forward to the committee stage.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

In committee.

Clause 1.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: For the sake of the efficient operating of this committee, I do not think there is much controversy around this bill. I might indicate that we have amendments, two pretty simple government amendments. The first amendment is for the sake of clarity and is in relation to the purpose of the Joint Parliamentary Service being to provide support and facilities to members of parliament in undertaking their parliamentary duties, and the second is clarification about a review to occur.

I will invite the Hon. Tammy Franks from the Greens to make comment after this. I understand the Hon. Tammy Franks may not be moving her amendments if the government moves those, and that is what I intend to do.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: I rise to indicate the opposition supports the government amendment, which is an amended version of amendments originally drafted by the Hon. Tammy Franks. We believe this amendment is sensible.

Clause passed.

Clauses 2 and 3 passed.

Clause 4.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I move:

Amendment No 1 [AG–2]—

Page 3, after line 36—After its present contents (now to be designated as subclause (1)) insert:

(2) Section 7—after subsection (2) insert:

(3) The purpose of the joint parliamentary service is to provide support and facilities to members of Parliament in undertaking their parliamentary duties.

Amendment carried; clause as amended passed.

Clauses 5 to 8 passed.

New clause 8A.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I move:

Amendment No 2 [AG–2]—

Page 4, after line 17—Insert:

8A—Review

(1) The Executive Officer must, not later than 10 months after the relevant day, provide to the President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly a report that includes an assessment of the way in which the workplace of the joint parliamentary service is managed (including, for example, management of workplace health and safety and performance management).

(2) The President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly must, not later than 12 months after the relevant day, jointly cause a review to be undertaken of the matters outlined in the report received under subsection (1) and a report on the review to be prepared and submitted to them.

(3) The review must consider and make recommendations in relation to ensuring the parliamentary workplace is managed consistently with contemporary standards.

(4) The President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly must, as soon as practicable after receiving a report under this section, cause a copy of the report to be laid before their respective Houses.

(5) In this section—

Executive Officer and joint parliamentary service have the same respective meanings as in the Parliament (Joint Services) Act 1985;

relevant day means the day on which an Executive Officer for the joint parliamentary service is first appointed under Part 2 Division 1A of the Parliament (Joint Services) Act 1985.

I move this amendment standing in my name for the reasons I indicated at clause 1.

New clause inserted.

Remaining clause (9), schedule and title passed.

Bill reported with amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (17:00): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.