The non-labour parties in the Victorian upper house have combined to set up a permanent committee to examine ANY finance and public administration issues.
We’ve yet to see how wide the scope of the Committee’s investigations will be, but it appears likely to include local Council administration (particularly planning departments!), overall planning processes (including VCAT), and the role of the State Government in decision making on urban planning issues – including the actions of the planning Minister.
We certainly hope it will!
So get your submissions ready, the committee will get started early in the new year!
From Hansard, these are the Committee’s terms of reference (we have added the amendments, and renumbered):
STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
(1) A Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration of seven members is appointed to inquire into any proposal, matter or thing concerned with public administration or public sector finances.
(2) The committee will consist of two members from the government party nominated by the Leader of the Government, two members from the Opposition nominated by the Leader of the Opposition, one member from The Nationals nominated by the Leader of The Nationals, one member from the Australian Greens nominated by the Australian Greens Whip and Mr Peter Kavanagh, MLC, from the Democratic Labor Party.
(3) The members will be appointed by lodgement of the names with the President by the persons referred to in paragraph (2) no later than 4.00 p.m. on Monday, 31 December 2007.
(4) a member of the committee may be substituted by another member of the same party by notice from the member to the clerk of the committee.
(5) the substitute member is a member of the committee for all purposes.
(6) The first meeting of the committee must be held no later than 4.00 p.m. on Monday, 7 April 2008.
(7) The committee may proceed to the dispatch of business notwithstanding that all members have not been appointed and notwithstanding any vacancy.
(8) Four members of the committee will constitute a quorum of the committee.
(9) The chair of the committee will be a non-government member and the deputy chair will be a government member.
(10) The committee may inquire into any proposal, matter or thing that is relevant to its functions which is —
(a) referred to it by resolution of the Council; or
(b) determined by the committee.
(11) Within seven days of deciding to inquire into any proposal, matter or thing, the committee will inform the Council of the terms of reference.
(12) The committee will advertise the terms of reference for an inquiry and call for submissions and all such submissions received by the committee will be treated as public documents unless the committee otherwise orders.
(13) The committee may commission persons to investigate and report to the committee on any aspects of its inquiry.
(14 ) The committee may appoint a subcommittee of at least four members, of whom one is appointed by the committee as chair of the subcommittee.
(15) The quorum of a subcommittee is the majority of the members appointed to it.
(16 ) Business may only be transacted at a meeting of a subcommittee if a quorum is present.
(17) A question arising at a meeting of a subcommittee must be determined by a majority of votes of members present and voting on that question.
(18) Each member of a subcommittee has a deliberative vote.
(19 ) In the event of an equality of votes on any question, the chair of the subcommittee has a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote.
(20 ) The committee may empower a specified member or members of the subcommittee to send for persons, documents and other things and to take evidence with respect to any proposal, matter or thing which is referred to the subcommittee for consideration and report if the committee unanimously agrees so to empower the member or members.
(21 ) When taking evidence under the preceding subparagraph, a member of a subcommittee has all the privileges, immunities and powers of the committee.
(22) A subcommittee, in relation to any proposal, matter or thing referred to it by the committee for consideration and report has all the privileges, immunities and powers (except the powers specified in subparagraph (10)) of the committee.
(23 ) A subcommittee must report to the committee which may adopt a report of the subcommittee or reject its report or adopt its report with variations.
(24) The provisions of the standing orders relating to select committees apply to the committee as if it were a select committee.
(25) The foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders and sessional orders or practices of the Council will have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing or sessional orders or practices of the Council.