Page 4712 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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PRECEDENCE TO PRIVATE MEMBERS BUSINESS
MR HUMPHRIES (12.12): Madam Speaker, I move:
That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent order of the day No. 19, private members business, relating to the Long Service Leave (Building and Construction Industry) (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1993, being called on forthwith and taking precedence over consideration of orders of the day, Executive business, until the resolution of any question relating to the conclusion of consideration of order of the day No. 19, private members business.
Madam Speaker, the reason for this suspension of standing orders is very simple. We have before the Assembly a Bill presented yesterday by Mr De Domenico relating to a matter of some importance to a particular sector of the ACT's industry, a matter in respect of which a certain degree of urgency has been acknowledged by both the Government and the Opposition in this place and by the Independents. There has been a promise on the part of the Government for action - indeed, a promise on the part of the Government for action by the end of this year.
The industry concerned is anxious to see this measure dealt with. The industry, I understand, has made it very clear to the Government that it is anxious to see this dealt with, and the delay on this matter has been quite unconscionable. Today is the last sitting day of 1993. Action has clearly not been taken or contemplated by this Government, and it is time that action was taken, if not by the Government, then by the Assembly as a whole. The Bill which is before the Assembly is designed to operate as from 1 January 1994 and this, therefore, is the last appropriate day on which it can be dealt with.
Madam Speaker, I think the Assembly is entitled to take the extraordinary step of bringing this matter on for debate today in order to ensure that this matter of importance to the ACT's economy is dealt with today. Anything less is an abrogation of the promises made by this Government. We are used to seeing those sorts of promises being abrogated anyway, Madam Speaker, and today is no exception to that. But we believe that it is important that this matter be honoured, whether it is honoured by this Government that made the promise in the first place or honoured by the Assembly as a whole.
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (12.14): Madam Speaker, as usual, Mr Humphries has spun the web, but he has not made out a case for the urgent consideration of this Bill. In the first place, I made it clear in this chamber yesterday that work is well advanced on providing the new arrangements for the collection of money for industry training in the ACT, but members opposite do not choose to accept that explanation. I have also said that, simultaneously with the availability of that Bill, I will be amending the levy charged. Of course, they do not choose to take that in good faith either.
Mr Humphries: But when?
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