Page 2856 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 22 November 1989

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MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister) (4.00): Mr Speaker, I would just like to point out quickly that it is my understanding that in fact Mr Stefaniak cannot move to amend particular items within the program, but only the total overall figure for that program. It is quite out of order for him to move to reduce expenditure, as he has so horrifically proposed, under antidiscrimination, women's enterprise service and women's employment strategy. The question is on the total amount, and he can only move to reduce that total amount. He will have to leave his prejudices out of it, I am afraid.

MR SPEAKER: That is correct. I believe he was moving the amount and directed his attentions to his follow-up wording to support that.

MR COLLAERY (4.01): Mr Speaker, of course, members of the Assembly are well aware of section 65 of the ACT (Self-Government) Act and standing orders 200 and 201, and that is the area that I think Mr Wood and the Chief Minister are alluding to. The Rally does not support the proposed amendment. I do not think more needs to be said.

Mrs Grassby: Smart, very smart.

MR COLLAERY: I have got Mrs Grassby opposite me. This is an important task this afternoon and I would be grateful if you could tone her down. It is years since I was in a classroom, and I am not used to chattering infants opposite me.

MS MAHER (4.02): The No Self Government Party will not be supporting this motion. I would just like to put that on record.

MR COLLAERY (4.02): I will adopt my right to speak twice. Mr Speaker, my colleague Mr Berry has asked me about these provisions. There may be traditions in another house that the Chief Minister alluded to, but the fact of the law is that section 65 of the Act does permit a reduction without imperilling the Government.

MR SPEAKER: That is correct.

MR JENSEN (4.03): Mr Speaker, I rise to indicate that while I appreciate Mr Stefaniak's feelings and ideas, I am afraid that I am not in a position to vote with him on this reduction that he is proposing. I have some concern about his proposal to reduce the sum of $50,000 from women's employment strategies. In questions in this Assembly and also during the Estimates Committee, I have already alluded to some concerns I had about the reduction of programs in the TAFE area which may not have made it easy for women in disadvantaged situations to make themselves available for TAFE courses so that they could improve their position in life.


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