Resumed from 8 November on the following motion moved by Hon Alison Xamon —
That the report be noted.
[speeches and comments of various members]
The CHAIR: The question is that the report be noted. Hon Alison Xamon —
Hon ALISON XAMON: I have already spoken once.
The CHAIR: You have spoken. I will most certainly give you the call, but as there is a member who has not spoken seeking the call, I must give the call to Hon Michael Mischin.
[speeches and comments of various members]
Hon ALISON XAMON: This report was about the legal composition of the Joint Standing Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission.
I note that, although according to the convention of this and the other place the current make-up of the CCC committee is unprecedented, I suggest that it was not unforeseen. If members look at the original Hansard from the time at which the composition of a future committee was contemplated, they will see that Hon Giz Watson, my former Greens colleague, talked about the importance of ensuring that other parties were able to be on this committee. I remind members that dealing with anticorruption measures and the importance of oversighting powerful bodies such as the CCC—for that matter, oversighting the activities of the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission—should be a matter of concern to every member and every party. One issue that has been suggested in the past is that perhaps the committee would benefit from broadening out to a wider number of members. That is something that I would like the house to perhaps contemplate and consider. One thing that I do not accept in dealing with issues of corruption is that the Greens, the Nationals, the Liberal Democrats, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and One Nation should, can or must never have any role in the oversight of this very important body. It is an issue for us all to take seriously. I suggest that there needs to be an opportunity for any member to be a full participant on that committee, if that is the will of the house.
I would particularly like to focus on the issue of being a full participant. This report has identified, to use the words of Hon Nick Goiran, that in effect, as a member of this committee who is not a member of either the Labor Party or the Liberal Party, I am a second-class member, in one respect in particular—that is, the recommendation for the appointment of a Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission. In that instance, my view, whether I agree with the committee or not, is of no effect. I am concerned about that because, as has been pointed out in this debate, I was duly elected to this Council every bit as much as every other member. There is no justification for any member of this place who has been appointed to any committee having less of a say than any other member. One thing that I think needs to be contemplated as we move into the future is how we can have an oversight committee that is truly reflective of the make-up of the Parliament and the number of parties represented here without necessarily needing to lessen the number of members from either the Labor Party or the Liberal Party. We need to have a very firm look at any provision that is currently within the act that limits the capacity for every member to have a full say about all the activities of the committee.
For the purposes of this debate, I am pleased to note that I am lawfully entitled to be on this committee. That is a relief. As I said before, I would, of course, have immediately stood down. I would not even have needed to be asked. Had it been found that I was not eligible or if there had been a serious question mark over my eligibility, I would have immediately stood down. I am entitled to be on the committee, but I do not enjoy the full rights of the other members and that is a problem. With the different make-ups of our Parliament these days, I think a very sound argument can be made to have a broader number of parties represented in these important groups. Corruption should concern every single one of us. As such, it would be good for our committees to reflect that.
Question put and passed.
Joint Standing Committee on the Commissioner for Children and Young People — First Report — “Annual Report 2016–17” — Motion
Hon Dr SALLY TALBOT: I move — That the report be noted.
Question put and passed.
Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations — Seventy-second Report — “2016–17 Annual Report Hearings” — Motion
Hon MARTIN PRITCHARD: I move — That the report be noted.
[speeches and comments of various members]
Hon ALISON XAMON: I take this opportunity to make a few comments about the process by which the hearings may or may not be conducted. For Council members who are not members of this committee, the opportunity to participate in hearings on annual reports or financial estimates represents a one-off opportunity in any year to grill government departments face to face about matters pertaining to our particular portfolios, for those of us who have portfolio responsibilities. I simply want to make the observation to the committee that perhaps clear attention needs to be paid to the way in which the proceedings are conducted, perhaps to give priority to members of this chamber who do not have the opportunity to undertake those examinations year round, unlike members who are privileged enough to have been appointed by this chamber to the committee on an ongoing basis. One thing that is of no interest to me is to merely sit back as an observer, even having done a fair bit of preparation, watching other people undertake grillings regardless of their level of understanding or knowledge in a particular area, while I have, effectively, a lot of other things that I could be doing with my time. Over the years, the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations has chosen to take different approaches to the way in which members who are not members of the committee may participate. Perhaps it is a useful exercise to look at the way previous committees have successfully undertaken these proceedings, because I think it is beneficial for all members of this chamber to be able to utilise those opportunities, which are rarely available to those of us not on the committee, to best effect.
Question put and passed.
Progress reported, pursuant to standing orders.