MEDIA RELEASE FROM CRAIG INGRAM MP - MEMBER FOR GIPPSLAND EAST Issued: Tuesday 27th February 2007

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Ingram seeks to give powers back to Parliamentary committees

The Independent Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, will attempt to amend the Parliamentary committees section of legislation being debated this week in state parliament to give the Parliament more power to scrutinise government.

“The Labor government, with the support of the National Party, are attempting to knobble the power of Parliamentary committees in a deal where the Nats sold out country people for a measly few pieces of silver and a chauffer,” Mr Ingram said.

“The amendments, if supported, will give the balance of control of these crucial scrutinies of government committees back to the non-government members including the Liberals, Nationals and other minor parties.

“This is how the committee system is supposed to work in an effective functioning democracy... and it would have under the reformed Upper House if the National Party had not done its dirty deal with the Labor Government to thwart the committee process.”

Mr Ingram will also move an amendment to establish a public works scrutiny committee designed to investigate government projects.

“The committee would have powers to investigate projects of its choosing and investigate items such as the project’s value for money, public process, planning and the government’s overall handling of public projects and expenditure,” he said.

“A properly functioning public works committee would be able to investigate contentious projects like the proposed eastern water treatment project and the Gippsland Water Factory, channel deepening, fast rail, or the now dumped toxic waste facility.

“Victoria removed its public works committee under the Cain government and is out of step with most Westminster parliaments, where a public works committee is an important tool to ensure adequate scrutiny of public expenditure and the government’s management of public infrastructure projects.

“If supported, these changes will provide parliamentary committees the ability to investigate and scrutinise government.

“These amendments will also force the National Party to show what it stands for - real democracy and an accountable government, or secret dirty backroom deals for a few pieces of silver and extra perks,” Mr Ingram concluded.