Page 4674 - Week 15 - Wednesday, 15 December 1993
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MS SZUTY (5.19): Mr Humphries has raised an issue which we did deal with at some length in the Scrutiny of Bills Committee. The Government response, which was received from the Attorney-General, Mr Connolly, on 24 November, says:
I am advised that the Bill as drafted does contain adequate protection in relation to self incrimination as the Bill does not expressly or impliedly abrogate the privilege against self incrimination.
While that answer was technically correct, the Scrutiny of Bills Committee was not necessarily happy with the wording of the Bill as it appears at the moment. I think that Mr Humphries has taken the issue up legitimately on the basis of the Scrutiny of Bills Committee's concerns and this provision will improve the relevant piece of the legislation quite substantially.
Amendment agreed to.
Clause, as amended, agreed to.
Remainder of Bill, by leave, taken together, and agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRAINING AUTHORITY
(TERRITORY FUNCTIONS) BILL 1993
Debate resumed from 9 December 1993, on motion by Mr Wood:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR CORNWELL (5.20): Madam Speaker, last week we discussed the report of the National Committee on Violence and I felt in that debate that we were addressing the effect rather than the cause. I would say that the cause of much of the violence is inadequate parenting skills, poverty, unemployment and alienation. They are all causes of violence, but the cause in total so often is poor or inadequate education. I would hope that the functions that are proposed in this legislation for the Australian National Training Authority, and this particular aspect of that legislation which will facilitate it in the ACT, will assist in correcting some of these educational deficiencies. I would remind members of ANTA's purpose. I quote:
According to the Australian National Training Authority Act 1992, the main aim of ANTA is to promote a national vocational education and training system, with agreed objectives and priorities, assured funding arrangements, consistent national strategies and a network of high quality providers, delivering nationally recognised programs.
I understand that something in the vicinity of an additional $720m is going to be provided for the triennium commencing from 1 January 1994. I hope that this commendable aim, Madam Speaker, can be translated into more than just words. Unfortunately the Labor governments, both Federal and local, often rely very heavily on words but not much on action. Therefore I have to say that I remain a little sceptical as to what the outcomes of this new initiative may be.
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