Page 1866 - Week 09 - Thursday, 19 October 1989
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MR COLLAERY: I could not trust myself, Minister. Major Jensen took care of that. So we see that the committee staff are going to be vital to the success of this new committee. Because we do not have second reading speeches, another item that is vital is the filter of having an eminent legal consultant on these matters. We know that the other house has consultants employed almost continually on vexed issues of law that affect the Territory. Certainly, there should be scope within the budget of this house for us to appoint out of this committee at an early date a consultant to advise on matters of extreme complexity, matters of constitutionality and the like.
Once already in the life of this Assembly we have had to seek ad hoc legal advice on an issue, but it would be better in many respects if we had a consulting arrangement out of this committee with an eminent lawyer. With that and with the Government hopefully considering the appointment of a solicitor-general at an early date, we may find the Bills program and the legislative program of this house proceeding far more smoothly.
MR STEVENSON (11.35): I commend the principle of having a committee to look after these vital functions. We do not have, of course, an upper house as a house of review, and this will give us the opportunity to operate as an upper house, if you like. In the Senate, there is a Regulations and Ordinances Committee, formed in the 1930s, and also a Scrutiny of Bills Committee, formed some 10 years ago. In the New South Wales Parliament there is a Regulation Review Committee. I am sure that our committee will be able to ensure that there are no problems in any legislation that comes before this Assembly.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister) (11.36), in reply: I welcome the support of other parties in the Assembly for the formation of this committee. I do think it is an important step for the Assembly to take, but I should stress at the moment that it is an interim measure and that our final position on this sort of a committee might await the outcome of the general reorganisation of committees that I referred to earlier. Partly for that reason I am inclined to oppose Mr Stevenson's proposed amendment to increase the number of members of the committee. I feel that while we have limited the terms of reference of the committee in the way that we have, and - - -
MR SPEAKER: Chief Minister, there was no proposed amendment.
MS FOLLETT: Was there not? Did he not move it?
MR SPEAKER: No, he did not move the amendment.
MS FOLLETT: In that case, I will not refer to the matter. I simply thank members for their support for the proposed committee.
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