Page 1903 - Week 09 - Thursday, 19 October 1989
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SAN FRANCISCO AND SANTA CRUZ EARTHQUAKE
Ministerial Statement
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister), by leave: Mr Speaker, I would like to pass on the Government's sympathy to the people of San Francisco and Santa Cruz for their loss in yesterday's tragic earthquake. I am sure that all members of the Assembly will join with us and with the rest of the people of Canberra at this time in passing on our concern for the citizens of San Francisco and Santa Cruz. It has been distressing for us all to see the scenes of devastation caused by the earthquake. I have sent a message to the United States ambassador expressing the sympathy of the Government and the people of the ACT.
GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a short statement concerning the Chief Minister's recent announcement on provision of a legislative program.
Leave granted.
MR HUMPHRIES: I have to express on behalf of the Opposition my grave concern about the inadequacy of the Minister's long-delayed reply to my question of 6 July and about the inadequacy of what the Government proposes to do in response to the question I asked on that day. Let me make it perfectly clear that what the Minister refers to when she offers to supply information to other parties in this Assembly about the Government's plans for introducing legislation is a far cry from a legislative program. It is simply not a legislative program.
I asked the Minister on 6 July, three and a half months ago, to provide a legislative program. I had in mind at that time a legislative program somewhat akin to what occurs and is provided by the Government in the Federal Parliament to other parties in that place. I assumed that three and a half months would have been more than enough time for the Government to set out, in some kind of vague detail, the sort of legislation it planned to bring in up until the end of this year. It is not a very long time to go, but still enough to allow some time for us to discuss the issues which the Chief Minister might raise in those Bills. Are we to get that? No, we are not. We are to get a vague statement - - -
Ms Follett: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe that Mr Humphries is debating this matter, and at any rate I refer him to the answer which I have given him which lists - - -
MR HUMPHRIES: Four bits of legislation.
Ms Follett: That is not so.
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