Page 802 - Week 03 - Thursday, 25 March 1993
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experienced lawyers the younger lawyers may have more time to put into the case. Justice would need to be fast; it would need to be inexpensive; and it would need to be just. All too often we do not find those situations. The Legal Affairs Committee is doing valuable work. Let us hope that, with the extra time, they support principles that will enable people in the ACT to actually gain justice.
MR LAMONT (11.20): I rise to comment on a number of issues that have been raised.
Mr Berry: We could get him a job on a committee.
MR LAMONT: Thank you, Mr Berry. That was the suggestion that I was about to make. We have seen an increase in the activity of this committee, not only since the appointment of Ms Szuty. If we could build on that with the addition of Mr Moore to the committee, that would accelerate the work even faster. Of course, with Mr Stevenson also on the committee, we could probably have this finished in a week. That is somewhat tongue-in-cheek; nevertheless it is an issue that is of concern. This committee has existed for 12 months with two people from this chamber. It was appropriate that the committee numbers be increased to three, and I, as one member of the committee, would welcome the addition of Mr Moore and Mr Stevenson in due course.
MR HUMPHRIES (11.21), in reply: I thank members for their support for the motion. I have to repeat for Ms Szuty's benefit that on this inquiry we were faced with the choice of either reproducing work which has been done elsewhere on the cost of the very same justice that was the reference we were given or waiting until the Senate inquiry had produced some work. I had no hesitation in taking the latter course of action; nor did Mr Lamont, then the only other member of the committee. It was our unanimous and firm view that that should be the case. So I make no apologies for not having many meetings. There simply was not the work to do. Calling a meeting for the sake of having a meeting is unnecessary and wasteful, and I hope that I am never involved in that kind of activity in this committee.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
LEGAL AFFAIRS - STANDING COMMITTEE
Reference - Crimes (Amendment) Bi
ll 1993
MR MOORE (11.22): Madam Speaker, I move:
That, notwithstanding the provisions of standing order 174 -
(1) the Crimes (Amendment) Bill 1993 be referred to the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs for inquiry and report by 13 May 1993; and
(2) on the Committee presenting its report to the Assembly resumption of debate on the question "That this Bill be agreed to in principle" be set down as an order of the day for the next day of sitting.
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