Chair and hon members, I would like to dedicate this short speech that I'm going to make to Gail Elliot, who was a tireless worker for better skills development, who passed away recently. Her contribution to the report that informs many aspects of the current Bill was substantial.
This Bill is an urgent piece of legislation that is required to shore up what is really a creaking edifice of the Seta system. I must say that despite very poorly drafted legislation, the committee spent a lot of time developing what I think is an important consensus on this Bill. This was very ably led by the chairperson of the committee, and my colleague has already referred to his leadership. I would like to add my voice in recognising his contribution in that respect.
I think that this consensus bodes well for the future, particularly the Green Paper because, Minister, while the Bill is important, I think it really only tinkers with the system. The Seta system is vital to the successful development of our economy.
This Bill has many positive aspects, such as the strong disclosure of interests, the standardising of the constitutions of the Seta and clearly defining the powers, functions and responsibilities of the accounting officer and the executive, as well as the clear service level agreements and strategic plans. So, there are very good things in the Bill.
On the other hand, some of the weaknesses - the philosophical blind spots, if you like - such as insisting on the constitution being put in the legislation, is not going to stop legal action. All that is going to happen is that legal action will now go straight to the Constitutional Court, because if people are unhappy with the law and think it is unfair, it is not that they don't have recourse, it's just that this goes to another court.
I think that that points us to the real fundamental problem, and that is the architecture of the current system is flawed. These flaws are such that the current amendments won't address the fundamental weaknesses of the system.
So, Minister, we are not going to oppose the Bill, but we really want to say that it's a stopgap measure. And we rather look forward to the Green Paper process in which, it is hoped, you will assist your committee chair in ensuring that we can address these fundamental problems. One thing that we saw in the committee is that across all the political parties there is a desire to make skills development work and make this institution function well. I really hope that that's what we will achieve. Thank you. [Applause.]