Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-14 Daily Xml

Contents

Parliamentary Committees

STATUTORY AUTHORITIES REVIEW COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (17:09): I move:

That the report of the committee, 2008-09, be noted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I indicate that my contribution will be short, as this report serves as a means of summarising the activities of the committee for the previous year. The Statutory Authorities Review Committee annual report for 2008-09 is the 14th annual report of the committee and my first as Presiding Member. As I have mentioned, it provides a summary of the committee's activities for the previous year.

Throughout the year the committee has met on 20 occasions and currently has four ongoing inquiries. During the year the committee tabled its final report and recommendations on the Independent Gambling Authority in April 2009, as well as receiving and hearing a great deal of evidence in relation to its ongoing inquiries. It also received a new referral from the Legislative Council for an inquiry into the Teachers Registration Board, and the committee has received a number of submissions.

The oral evidence received related to its inquiries into the Land Management Corporation, the WorkCover Corporation and the Office of the Public Trustee. The committee is due to table a report from the inquiry into the Land Management Corporation in the next sitting week. Whilst clearly not in the 2008-09 financial year, the committee anticipates the completion of the inquiries into the Office of the Public Trustee and the WorkCover Corporation, with reports to be tabled before the end of the calendar year.

In April this year the New Zealand parliament hosted the 10th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees. The theme of this year's conference was 'Sharing lessons—seeking improved accountability—facing new challenges'. After a number of years as an associate member, the committee became a full member of ACPAC after its nomination in 2008. This year's conference was attended by me as the Presiding Member, the Hon. Terry Stephens and the committee secretary.

I am very pleased to have been appointed to the committee in April this year. I particularly acknowledge the former presiding member, the Hon. Bernard Finnigan, and I also thank other honourable members for their ongoing work as members of the committee, namely, the Hon. Ian Hunter, the Hon. Rob Lucas, the Hon. Terry Stephens and the Hon. Ann Bressington, and I look forward to working with them in the future.

At the end of 2008 the committee appointed Ms Lisa Baxter to take up the position of research officer, and Mr Gareth Hickery continues as our secretary. I thank the staff, including, of course, our administrative assistant, Ms Cynthia Gray, for their service throughout the year.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.J. Stephens.