Opposition Leader Kate Carnell’s idea for a collegiate-style government was described yesterday as a “”kindergarten ploy” by the Conservation Council.
And Independent Helen Szuty said it would be a return to the no-responsibility days of the Alliance Government.
Ms Szuty said Ms Carnell had misinterpreted community concern over consultation and direction of government as a call to change the structure.
The president of the council, Jacqueline Rees, said Ms Carnell should be working to make the Westminster system work properly rather than hiding behind a “”kindergarten ploy” to change it.
She called on the Opposition to use the weapons of Westminster more effectively. Question Time should be used effectively and courageously to make those responsible accountable to the people through the House. To date the Opposition had not shown that courage.
“”The administration of planning in the ACT is an example where the effective use of Question Time and other elements of the Westminster system could have exposed the Government, put it under pressure and made it more accountable,” she said.
A committee system where ministerial responsibility was divided among several people was too open to manipulation by vested interests, including those of politicians themselves.
The ACT should not use the slanging match of Federal Parliament as a model. “”This community is capable of making Westminster work properly,” she said.
The main parties had paid a high price for their pre-selection systems which rewarded party hacks and caused cynicism and disillusion.
Ms Szuty said it was in the hands of MLAs to make the system work better. People did not want high-handed minsters who did not answer correspondence promptly.
In effective the Alliance Government had a committee system. It divided responsibility between the Liberals, the Rally and the No-Self-Government members. It was a fiasco that had resulted in decisions like the school closures and the closure of Royal Canberra Hospital.
As to Ms Carnell’s concern about the adversary nature of the Westminster system, she said the system could be as adversary as the Opposition wanted it.