Page 670 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 July 1989
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allowing the community out there to have its voice and for the few front-runners, particularly those BWIU workers who came from the Chinese embassy site to protest about the right of peaceful protest, to see that all the quiet, passive people out there - the sorts of quiet people who get assaulted in dark alleys - have their say, too.
MR WOOD (10.59): Mr Speaker, when time ran out on the motion to suspend standing orders, I was about to move on and say that, while I am a member of all these committees, no committee has failed to meet because I could not be there. On one occasion I left an apology, and a meeting lapsed for want of a quorum, but I had given prior notice. I have been absolutely assiduous in attending all committee meetings.
My colleagues, who are not on quite so many committees, are finding it a very time-consuming occupation. I do not think the motion to suspend standing orders and now this one to refer this to a select committee are realistic. Mr Collaery's planning committee has not got down to business yet, so perhaps he has not experienced the range of work that these committees can bring on.
Mr Jensen: Read the notice paper, Bill.
MR WOOD: The committee has not had more than its opening meeting. Is that right or is it not right?
Mr Collaery: That is correct.
MR WOOD: Thank you. I knew that was the case. This proposal is not realistic. Each of the three select committees so far appointed has sought to extend the date for its inquiry.
Mr Humphries: There are four.
MR WOOD: Yes, there is a more recent one now. That was not because we have been slow to get down to it but, as soon as you go out to the community, when you advertise and say, "Tell us what you want to say to us", people immediately say, as they have looked at our deadlines, our timetable, "We can't give you a considered submission in that time. Please can we have more time?". They have all done that. We want considered views from the community, surely.
We have three weeks as of yesterday to get this up and running, advertised, get submissions in, listen to groups, write a report and come back to the Assembly. I can tell Mr Collaery that will not happen. The realities of it are such that it cannot happen. I will tell him now that the committee, with his agreement, down the track a little, will come back into this Assembly and say, "Can we have an extension of time?". People will want to give considered views. The three members who sit around the table will want to hear them, and they will want to give them considered judgment before coming back into this Assembly.
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