Ms FORREST question to DEPUTY LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Ms PALMER

With regard to the Cross-Party Working Group for Local Government Reform -

(1) Does the Minister acknowledge that the Legislative Council is part of the Parliament referred to in the PESRAC recommendation that stated - Parliament should own the Local Government reform process?

(2) Please provide copies of the minutes of the three meetings of the working group to date.

(3) What mechanism will be utilised to engage with members of the Legislative Council?

(4) What date will members of the Legislative Council be invited/engaged in the process thus ensuring the recommendations of PESRAC are met?

(5) At what stage of the development are the draft terms for reference for:

(a) The working group?

(b) The expert panel?

ANSWER

I thank the member for her questions.

(1) Yes, it is acknowledged that the Legislative Council is part of the Parliament. So far discussions have focused on whether or not the political parties and the independent member for Clark can agree to work together as per PESRAC's recommendation as a basis for working with the whole of Parliament.

(2) Given the informal nature of discussions so far, formal minutes have not been taken.

(3) We plan to liaise with the Legislative Council when we have an agreement to proceed.

(4) As the working group has not made a decision regarding an engagement mechanism, a date has not been discussed.

(5) The working group has identified the need for it to have a terms of reference with various approaches proposed by members. At this time, no agreement has been reached on the final form.

A terms of reference for the expert panel has been discussed, but not finalised.