National Party member for Tweed, Geoff Provest, has come under fire by the NSW Wastewatch Committee and Labor after a committee he chairs failed to produce anything within the year.
Mr Provest is paid an extra $20,000 of taxpayer money to chair the committee.
He is one of three parliamentary committee chairs who are yet to start a single inquiry after a year on the job, says the Wastewatch Committee, which has recently completed an analysis of the activity of the Baird-appointed NSW Parliamentary Committees since the 2015 election.
Mr Provest’s committee has responsibility for the departments of the Attorney-General, Corrections, Emergency Services, Justice, Police, Racing; and Veterans Affairs.
Wastewatch Committee chair, Dr Hugh McDermott MP, said, ‘Taxpayers in NSW expect that politicians do the work they are paid for. Mr Provest is equal last in terms of performance in his role. He owes an apology to the people of NSW and Tweed.’
‘Committees were assessed by the number of inquiries commenced, hearings held and the content of any reports published.’
Labor’s Walt Secord said, ‘Only a minority of committee chairs have completed reports, however only three of the state’s worst performers have done absolutely nothing.’
‘Mr Provest has done no inquiries, no hearings and no reports. But he has still sent a $20,000 bill to the taxpayers of NSW.’
I’m active, Provest claims
But Mr Provest told Echonetdaily, ‘I have been an active participant in parliamentary committees during my parliamentary career and since the 2015 election. This includes the current inquiry into the regulation of short-term holiday letting – a major issue here in the Tweed. As chair of the legislative assembly committee on law and safety, I am currently finalising a referral for an inquiry into tougher sentencing for assaults against emergency services workers.
‘While these two Sydney-based members talk about our region in a press release, I’m busy working on the ground to deliver improved services and infrastructure for the people of the Tweed. Things like the new Tweed police station, the final stage of upgrades to Kennedy Drive worth $3.6 million, upgrades to the Tweed Hospital and funding for a new ambulance station at Pottsville.’
Mr Provest did not respond to Echonetdaily‘s question as to whether he would like to see his base salary increased.
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