Page 1402 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 1 May 1990
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Mr Berry: On a point of order; I again mention standing order 118. I think the question asked by Mr Connolly related to the action that the Chief Minister might take, but I think the Chief Minister has gone well beyond the bounds of that question.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you for your observation, Mr Berry. Would you answer the question posed, please, Mr Kaine.
MR KAINE: I think I have probably answered the question sufficiently. I request that any further questions be placed on the notice paper.
PROPOSED REVIEW OF ACT COURT SYSTEM
MR COLLAERY (Attorney-General): I seek leave to make a statement. I claim to have been misrepresented.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Collaery.
Mr Wood: We have to grant leave.
MR SPEAKER: Is leave granted? Leave is granted. Please proceed.
MR COLLAERY: Thank you. I am indebted to the members. In a question asked by our newest member, Mr Connolly, a few moments ago, he referred to two matters that would be of serious concern to the people of the ACT: firstly, that there would be a dispute between a Chief Justice of the Territory and its Attorney and, secondly, that there had been no consultation with the profession. I can simply put an end to both of those issues by tabling today the speech given by the Chief Justice at the address for newly admitted practitioners last week and the Chief Justice's extract from his speech launching Law Week yesterday.
Neither of those speeches gives any comfort to the imputations in Mr Connolly's question. Specifically, whilst I will never discuss the confidence of my discussions with the Chief Justice, I will happily inform the court that I have had discussions with the Chief Justice - - -
Mrs Grassby: This is not a court.
MR COLLAERY: I mean the Assembly. Prior to any statement made by this Government, the Chief Justice had a brief which was given to the consultant, a former senior official of the Federal Attorney-General's Department. I will quote it, Mr Speaker, because I think this is very important. It states:
The consultant is required to consult as widely as practicable with members of the judiciary (including officers of the Magistrate's Court and
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