Budget And Finance Committee
26/05/2010
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (17:39): I want to speak briefly in support of the Hon. Mr Lucas’s motion. The operations of government departments must be open to scrutiny, and I believe that a budget and finance committee is an excellent vehicle to scrutinise and monitor how state government departments spend the people’s funds.
While those in government and the opposition have the opportunity to scrutinise the financial administration of government departments during estimates committee hearings, as cross-benchers we do not have that option. In a sense, I am especially pleased that all members of this place may, with the permission of the chairperson, participate in the proposed committee’s proceedings. For this reason, I support the motion.
