Page 1976 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 24 October 1989
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"proceedings similar to the house". So, we have a similar sort of process by which the people, or the voters of Australia in the case of Federal legislation, can have an opportunity twice, Mr Speaker - in two forums - to make their points and their concerns in relation to a matter.
In closing my remarks I want to refer in particular to the discussions about the Optometrists (Amendment) Bill. We have heard today already about some problems associated with this Bill. Let me refer to a letter that I received from a practising optometrist. The letter begins:
I wish to express my grave concerns regarding the above Amendment Bill... With regard to Mr Berry's speech I wish to raise the following points.
It mentions the relationship between optometrists and ophthalmologists. The letter quotes Mr Berry's speech:
"These subsections state that it is unprofessional to advertise"... Advertising by Optometrists is permitted, but is controlled by our standards and subject to our guidelines.
It then talks about Mr Berry's speech stating:
"Discussions were held between the various interested bodies".
The question is asked:
Who were these bodies? considering that the local Optometrists were NOT consulted nor was the AOA (majority of ACT optometrists are members).
So much for consultation! It goes on in the next paragraph to state:
Why wasn't the Optometrists Registration Board notified of this Bill instead of finding out purely by accident by reading a tiny paragraph in the Canberra Times under the subject of "Jail terms and parking fines". Is this an example of our new 'Open' government consulting the people concerned?
In this matter I do not think I need to go on any further. It is quite clear that this motion should be warmly and strongly supported by the house so that the Government is forced by this Assembly to get on with the job of good government for the people of the ACT.
MRS GRASSBY (Minister for Housing and Urban Services) (4.57): Mr Speaker, I cannot support the motion or the amendment.
Mr Kaine: I didn't think you would, Ellnor.
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