WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1985
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MAKE PRESENT WORK FOR FUTURE
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DUNN
IF WE DO NOT MAKE THE PRESENT WORK WE SHALL NOT HAVE A FUTURE, THE HON LYDIA DUNN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
LEADING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS, SHE SAID: +IT IS RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN EYE TO THE FUTURE BUT WE MUST NOT LET IT DOMINATE OUR THOUGHTS TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE MORE PEDESTRIAN PROBLEMS OF THE PRESENT.+
MISS DUNN SUGGESTED THREE AREAS OF PRIORITY CONCERN FOR THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE IN THIS SESSION.
SHE SAID THE FIRST CONCERNED THE MANAGEMENT OF COUNCIL BUSINESS AND THIS INVOLVED BRINGING THE STANDING ORDERS UP TO DATE.
+WE ALSO NEED TO REVIEW OUR USE OF THE STANDING ORDERS IN PRACTICE TO ENABLE US TO DESPATCH EXPEDITIOUSLY THE MUCH EXPANDED BUSINESS OF A COUNCIL WHOSE CHARACTER AND COMPOSITION ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF THE SIXTIES.
+WE SUGGEST, THEREFORE, A SELECT COMMITTEE SHOULD BE SET UP TO REVIEW AND REVISE THE STANDING ORDERS, SHE SAID.
SHE ALSO SAW THE NEED TO APPOINT MORE SELECT COMMITTEES WITH POWER TO CALL FOR PAPERS, TO QUESTION WITNESSES AND TO CONDUCT HEARINGS PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY IN ORDER TO DEVELOP GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS WOULD REQUIRE REINFORCEMENT OF THE CLERK'S OFFICE JUST AS IN THE CASE WITH THE SECRETARIAT OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, MISS DUNN ADDED.
ON THE NEXT PRIORITY ECONOMY, SHE OBSERVED THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT PROTECTIONISM IN OUR PRINCIPAL MARKETS.
SHE SAID FOR YEARS NOW WE HAD HAD TO COPE WITH STEADILY INCREASING RESTRICTIONS ON OUR ACCESS TO MARKETS, OFTEN BY SWITCHING PRODUCTS AND MARKETS.
+TO A LARGE EXTENT OUR SUCCESS HAS MASKED THE FACT THAT THE SCREW WAS BEING TIGHTENED ALL THE TIME, SHE SAID.
SHE SAID SHE FELT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERSEAS OFFICES HAD GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO DO LITTLE MORE THAN REACT TO EACH SUCCESSIVE BLOW.
SHE QUESTIONED WHAT WAS OUR OVERSEAS STRATEGY. WAS IT JUST TO REACT?
+ IF WE ARE TO SUCCEED IN INFLUENCING EVENTS, SURELY WE MUST ANTICIPATE, NOT JUST REACT, SHE SAID,
/+WHAT ARE