Page 727 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 May 1992
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I note, Madam Speaker, that it is interesting that urgent legislation of this kind can be brought forward by the Government but other kinds of legislation seem to have disappeared off the map. I make the point that when we adjourn at the end of today's sitting the only matter of government business on the agenda will be the Supply Bill. That is an appalling state of affairs.
Mr Wood: No, it is not; there is other stuff. Have a look at it; there is more than a Supply Bill.
MR KAINE: I have had a look. The Supply Bill is all there is.
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.23), in reply: Madam Speaker, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his indication of support for this Bill. As he says, it is pretty much a housekeeping matter, and it is being done for the convenience of the bank and, of course, also for the convenience of the ACT account holders who are affected by this merger. It is indeed a matter that must be dealt with quickly, and I appreciate Mr Kaine's indication of support.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
CONFERENCE OF COMMONWEALTH AND STATE LABOUR MINISTERS
Ministerial Statement
Debate resumed from 19 May 1992, on motion by Mr Berry:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MR DE DOMENICO (3.24): Madam Speaker, recently the Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr Berry, attended a national conference of Industrial Relations Ministers. We in the Liberal Party agree with the Minister that the ACT had a significant part to play in this conference, especially in areas, as the Minister said, of wages policy, the legislative framework, occupational health and safety, and industry reform. Madam Speaker, we are told that the conference also talked about the fact that wages policy in Australia is tending towards enterprise bargaining. We also support this change and agree with what Mr Howard had to say this morning. We also note, Madam Speaker, that the conference talked about achieving competitiveness at the workplace level, and we once again agree.
But what we would like to know is: What has Mr Berry done, since he has been Minister for Industrial Relations, to add testimony to those things that he talked about in the house the other day? The answer, I suggest respectfully, Madam Speaker, is: Not much, if anything at all. I also note from Mr Berry's statement yesterday that the ACT is awaiting decisions from the Federal Government. One must ask: Do we not have a Government of our own? Of course, we do, Madam Speaker. But, quite obviously, the Government is not prepared to make its own mind up as to where the future of industrial relations lies.
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