Joint Select Committee needed to fix NaRRA’s glaring gaps, says Tomlinson
/ Our Today
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Deputy Spokesperson on Productivity, Efficiency and Competitiveness, Senator Cleveland Tomlinson, has called for the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill to be sent to a Joint Select Committee before any further progress.
Senator Tomlinson noted that the Bill, as currently drafted, concentrates too much power in the hands of the Minister, contains no provision for a board of the Authority, no audit committee, no internal auditor, and no risk management functions.
This is an entity that will be responsible for administering and managing billions of dollars, both from the public sector and to facilitate private sector investors through expedited procedures.
“This cannot be right,” Senator Tomlinson said. “An Authority with such enormous financial responsibility must have basic internal governance structures in place. The Bill as it stands, is missing essential pillars of accountability.”
He acknowledged the urgency of reconstruction after Hurricane Melissa but argued that speed cannot justify the absence of proper oversight. He proposed that a Joint Select Committee be convened with a finite period, perhaps 60-90 days, to complete its deliberations.
“The Bill needs the benefit of interventions and contributions from stakeholders and the wider society who have a strong interest in getting this right,” he added. “A Joint Select Committee can ensure that the final legislation balances urgency with good governance.”
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